Title: An act relating to park passes.

Brief Description: Allowing the parks and recreation commission to deny or revoke the issuance of a park pass in certain circumstances.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen and Oke; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/19/06, 1/23/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Hargrove, Morton, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)

Background: The State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) has the authority, under RCW 79A.05.065, to grant a senior citizen's pass, a disability pass, or a lifetime veteran's disability pass to qualified individuals. Such passes are valid at all parks throughout the year and allow discounted, or free, camping and admission at state parks.

Statute requires the holder of a senior citizen's pass to surrender the pass on request of a Commission employee when the employee has reason to believe the holder does not meet eligibility requirements. However, there is no specific language that addresses revoking or making void such passes in other situations.

Summary of Bill: The Commission may deny or revoke any Washington State park pass for cause. Passes may be revoked under circumstances including, but not limited to: residency outside of the state; violations of laws or rules resulting in eviction from a state park; intimidating, obstructing, or assaulting a park employee; fraudulent use of a pass; providing false information or documentation when applying for a pass; refusing to display a pass; or failing to provide current pass eligibility information upon request or when eligibility ceases or changes.

The Commission is provided the authority to engage in a mutually agreed upon reciprocal or discounted program for all or specific pass programs with other outdoor recreation agencies.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Commission has compiled many examples of pass holders who have broken rules, mistreated park staff, and fraudulently used passes. Current statute does not give the Commission the authority to revoke passes in such circumstances.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Fred Romero, Jack Haitt, and Pamela McConkey, State Parks.