BILL REQ. #:  S-2437.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to creating a state park foster home pass; and amending RCW 79A.05.065.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 79A.05.065 and 1999 c 249 s 305 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The commission shall grant to any person who meets the eligibility requirements specified in this section a senior citizen's pass which shall (((a))): (i) Entitle such a person, and members of his or her camping unit, to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite rental fee prescribed by the commission((,)); and (((b))) (ii) entitle such a person to free admission to any state park.
     (((2))) (b) The commission shall grant a senior citizen's pass to any person who applies for the ((same)) senior citizen's pass and who meets the following requirements:
     (((a))) (i) The person is at least sixty-two years of age; ((and
     (b))) (ii) The person is a domiciliary of the state of Washington and meets reasonable residency requirements prescribed by the commission; and
     (((c))) (iii) The person and his or her spouse have a combined income ((which)) that would qualify the person for a property tax exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.381((, as now law or hereafter amended)). The financial eligibility requirements of this ((subparagraph (c) shall)) subsection (1)(b)(iii) apply regardless of whether the applicant for a senior citizen's pass owns taxable property or has obtained or applied for such a property tax exemption.
     (((3))) (c) Each senior citizen's pass granted pursuant to this section is valid ((so)) as long as the senior citizen meets the requirements of (b)(ii) of this subsection (((2)(b) of this section. Notwithstanding, any)). A senior citizen meeting the eligibility requirements of this section may make a voluntary donation for the upkeep and maintenance of state parks.
     (((4))) (d) A holder of a senior citizen's pass shall surrender the pass upon request of a commission employee when the employee has reason to believe the holder fails to meet the criteria in (b)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this subsection (((2)(a), (b), or (c) of this section)). The holder shall have the pass returned upon providing proof to the satisfaction of the director ((of the parks and recreation commission)) that the holder ((does)) meets the eligibility criteria for obtaining the senior citizen's pass.
     (((5))) (2)(a) Any resident of Washington who is disabled as defined by the social security administration and who receives social security benefits for that disability, or any other benefits for that disability from any other governmental or nongovernmental source, or who is entitled to benefits for permanent disability under RCW 71A.10.020(3) due to unemployability full time at the minimum wage, or who is legally blind or profoundly deaf, or who has been issued a card, decal, or special license plate for a permanent disability under RCW 46.16.381 shall be entitled to receive, regardless of age and upon making application therefor, a disability pass at no cost to the holder. The pass shall (((a))): (i) Entitle such a person, and members of his or her camping unit, to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite rental fee prescribed by the commission((,)); and (((b))) (ii) entitle such a person to free admission to any state park.
     (((6))) (b) A card, decal, or special license plate issued for a permanent disability under RCW 46.16.381 may serve as a pass for the holder to entitle that person and members of the person's camping unit to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite rental fee prescribed by the commission, and to allow the holder free admission to state parks.
     (((7))) (3) Any resident of Washington who is a veteran and has a service-connected disability of at least thirty percent shall be entitled to receive a lifetime veteran's disability pass at no cost to the holder. The pass shall: (a) Entitle such a person, and members of his or her camping unit, to free use of any campsite within any state park; (b) entitle such a person to free admission to any state park; and (c) entitle such a person to an exemption from any reservation fees.
     (((8))) (4)(a) Any Washington state resident who provides out-of-home care to a child, as either a licensed foster family home or a person related to the child, is entitled to a foster home pass.
     (b) An applicant for a foster home pass must request a pass in the manner required by the commission. Upon receipt of a properly submitted request, the commission shall verify with the department of social and health services that the applicant qualifies under (a) of this subsection. Once issued, a foster home pass is valid for the period, which may not be less than one year, designated by the commission.
     (c) When accompanied by a child receiving out-of-home care from the pass holder, a foster home pass: (i) Entitles such a person, and members of his or her camping unit, to free use of any campsite within any state park; and (ii) entitles such a person to free admission to any state park.
     (d) For the purposes of this subsection (4):
     (i) "Out-of-home care" means placement in a foster family home or with a person related to the child under the authority of chapter 13.32A, 13.34, or 74.13 RCW;
     (ii) "Foster family home" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 74.15.020; and
     (iii) "Person related to the child" means those persons referred to in RCW 74.15.020(2)(a) (i) through (v).
     (5) All passes issued pursuant to this section ((shall be)) are valid at all parks any time during the year((: PROVIDED, That)). However, the pass ((shall)) is not ((be)) valid for admission to concessionaire operated facilities.
     (((9))) (6) The commission shall negotiate payment and costs, to allow holders of a foster home pass free access and usage of park campsites, with the following nonoperated, nonstate-owned parks: Central Ferry, Chief Timothy, Crow Butte, and Lyons Ferry. The commission shall seek state general fund reimbursement on a biennial basis.
     (7) This section shall not affect or otherwise impair the power of the commission to continue or discontinue any other programs it has adopted for senior citizens.
     (((10))) (8) The commission shall adopt ((such)) those rules as it finds appropriate for the administration of this section. Among other things, ((such)) the rules shall prescribe a definition of "camping unit" which will authorize a reasonable number of persons traveling with the person having a pass to stay at the campsite rented by such a person, a minimum Washington residency requirement for applicants for a senior citizen's pass, and an application form to be completed by applicants for a senior citizen's pass.