HB1035: State parks; free entry for veterans.


HOUSE BILL NO. 1035
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
on February 2, 2022)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Guzman)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-202.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to state parks; free entry for members of the Virginia National Guard.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 10.1-202.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 10.1-202.2. Passport for disabled veterans and members of Virginia National Guard established; free entry into state parks and discounted services.

A. The Department shall establish a Disabled Veteran's Passport that entitles the bearer to: (i) enter state parks in the Commonwealth without the payment of a parking or admission fee and (ii) receive a 50 percent discount on camping and swimming fees, picnic shelter rentals, and other Department-provided equipment rentals. The passport shall be issued upon request to a veteran of the armed forces Armed Forces of the United States with a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or from the military service that discharged the veteran, certifying that such veteran has a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent. The passport shall be valid for as long as the determination of the 100 percent service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs remains in effect.

B. The Department shall also establish a passport for members of the Virginia National Guard that entitles the bearer to enter state parks in the Commonwealth without the payment of a parking or admission fee. The passport shall be issued upon request to a member of the Virginia National Guard with a letter or other documentation from the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. The passport shall be valid for the life of its holder.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1035

Offered January 12, 2022
Prefiled January 12, 2022
A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-202.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to state parks; free entry for veterans.
Patron-- Guzman

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 10.1-202.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 10.1-202.2. Veteran's Passport and Disabled Veteran's Passport established; free entry into state parks and discounted services.

A. The Department shall establish a Veteran's Passport that entitles the bearer to enter state parks in the Commonwealth without the payment of a parking or admission fee. The passport shall be issued upon request to (i) a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States with a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or from the military branch from which the veteran most recently served, or (ii) a member of the Virginia National Guard with a letter or other documentation from the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. The Veteran's Passport shall be valid during the life of its holder.

B. The Department shall establish a Disabled Veteran's Passport that entitles the bearer to: (i) enter state parks in the Commonwealth without the payment of a parking or admission fee and (ii) receive a 50 percent discount on camping and swimming fees, picnic shelter rentals, and other Department-provided equipment rentals. The passport shall be issued upon request to a veteran of the armed forces Armed Forces of the United States with a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or from the military service that discharged the veteran, certifying that such veteran has a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent. The passport shall be valid for as long as the determination of the 100 percent service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs remains in effect.