CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1259

Chapter 441, Laws of 2007

60th Legislature
2007 Regular Session



STATE PARK PASSES



EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/22/07

Passed by the House April 14, 2007
  Yeas 94   Nays 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate April 5, 2007
  Yeas 47   Nays 0


BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
 
CERTIFICATE

I, Richard Nafziger, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1259 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.


RICHARD NAFZIGER
________________________________________    
Chief Clerk
Approved May 11, 2007, 11:20 a.m.








CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
May 11, 2007







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1259
_____________________________________________

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

Passed Legislature - 2007 Regular Session
State of Washington60th Legislature2007 Regular Session

By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Sullivan, Kretz, Blake and Moeller; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission)

READ FIRST TIME 02/26/07.   



     AN ACT Relating to park passes; and amending RCW 79A.05.065 and 79A.05.165.

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))) entitle such 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))) entitle such 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 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 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))) subsection (1)(b)(iii) shall apply regardless of whether the applicant for a senior citizen's pass owns taxable property or has obtained or applied for such property tax exemption.
     (((3))) (c) Each senior citizen's pass granted pursuant to this section is valid so long as the senior citizen meets the requirements of (b)(ii) of this subsection (((2)(b) of this section)). Notwithstanding, any 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) 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 meet 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))) entitle such 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))) entitle such 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 person, and members of his or her camping unit, to free use of any campsite within any state park; (b) entitle such person to free admission to any state park; and (c) entitle such person to an exemption from any reservation fees.
     (((8))) (4) All passes issued pursuant to this section shall be valid at all parks any time during the year((: PROVIDED, That)). However, the pass shall not be valid for admission to concessionaire operated facilities.
     (((9))) (5) The commission may deny or revoke any Washington state park pass issued under this section for cause, including but not limited to the following:
     (a) Residency outside the state of Washington;
     (b) Violation of laws or state park rules resulting in eviction from a state park;
     (c) Intimidating, obstructing, or assaulting a park employee or park volunteer who is engaged in the performance of official duties;
     (d) Fraudulent use of a pass;
     (e) Providing false information or documentation in the application for a state parks pass;
     (f) Refusing to display or show the pass to park employees when requested; or
     (g) Failing to provide current eligibility information upon request by the agency or when eligibility ceases or changes.
     (6)
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))) (7) The commission may engage in a mutually agreed upon reciprocal or discounted program for all or specific pass programs with other outdoor recreation agencies.
     (8)
The commission shall adopt such rules as it finds appropriate for the administration of this section. Among other things, such 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 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.

Sec. 2   RCW 79A.05.165 and 2003 c 53 s 382 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:
     (a) Cuts, breaks, injures, destroys, takes, or removes any tree, shrub, timber, plant, or natural object in any park or parkway except in accordance with such rules as the commission may prescribe; or
     (b) Kills, or pursues with intent to kill, any bird or animal in any park or parkway except in accordance with a research pass, permit, or other approval issued by the commission, pursuant to rule, for scientific research purposes; or
     (c) Takes any fish from the waters of any park or parkway, except in conformity with such general rules as the commission may prescribe; or
     (d) Willfully mutilates, injures, defaces, or destroys any guidepost, notice, tablet, fence, inclosure, or work for the protection or ornamentation of any park or parkway; or
     (e) Lights any fire upon any park or parkway, except in such places as the commission has authorized, or willfully or carelessly permits any fire which he or she has lighted or which is under his or her charge, to spread or extend to or burn any of the shrubbery, trees, timber, ornaments, or improvements upon any park or parkway, or leaves any campfire which he or she has lighted or which has been left in his or her charge, unattended by a competent person, without extinguishing it; or
     (f) Places within any park or parkway or affixes to any object therein contained, without a written license from the commission, any word, character, or device designed to advertise any business, profession, article, thing, exhibition, matter, or event.
     (2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person who violates any rule adopted, promulgated, or issued by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
     (b) The commission may specify by rule, when not inconsistent with applicable statutes, that violation of the rule is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.


         Passed by the House April 14, 2007.
         Passed by the Senate April 5, 2007.
         Approved by the Governor May 11, 2007.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 11, 2007.