STATE PARK FEES; FREE FISHING WEEKENDS H.B. 4983 (H-1):
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4983 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Bruce R. Rendon
House Committee: Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Senate Committee: Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 741 (State Parks System) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:
-- Allow a person to enter a State park without a recreation passport or a permit during free fishing days designated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
-- Specify that a person would not be subject to a parking fee in a State park on a free fishing day or during another time when entry is allowed in a State park without a recreation passport or permit.
The Act prohibits the operator of a nonresident motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle from entering a State park unless a valid motor vehicle park permit is affixed to the windshield. The operator of a resident motor vehicle may not enter a State park unless the motor vehicle has a registration tab or sticker marked to show that a recreation passport fee has been paid. The recreation passport fee authorizes entry into all State parks, recreation areas, and designated State-operated public boating access sites until the vehicle registration expires.
A person is exempt from these restrictions under the following circumstances: a) while the motor vehicle is being driven or parked within an established Federal, State, or county highway within a State park; b) the vehicle is used in the operation or maintenance of a State park, is an emergency motor vehicle, is a State-owned or law enforcement vehicle, or is a private vehicle being operated on official State business; c) the vehicle is specially registered by certain veterans of the armed forces or an individual awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; or d) the DNR waives the requirements for Department-sponsored events or other circumstances as determined by the Director or his or her designee.
Under the bill, the restrictions also would not apply on a day that the Department had designated as a free winter fishing day or a free fishing day under Section 43534. (Section 43534 requires the DNR to designate a Saturday and the following Sunday during January or February of each year as free winter fishing days, and allows the DNR to designate one other day or two other consecutive days each year as free fishing days.)
During a time a person was exempt from the requirement of obtaining a motor vehicle park permit or a recreation passport registration tab or sticker under the current and proposed provisions, the person would not be subject to a parking fee at a State park, State recreation area, or State-operated public boating access site.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a minor, but negative, fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources and local units of government. Under the bill, people entering State parks, State recreation areas, and State-operated boating access sites during free fishing weekends would be exempt from the requirement to have or obtain a recreation passport or motor vehicle permit. During the most recent free fishing weekend in June 2015, the DNR reported $57,000 in receipts for passports and permits, not including those obtained through motor vehicle registration with the Secretary of State. Under the bill, this revenue, as well as any revenue received during the winter free fishing weekend, would be lost.
Revenue from recreation passports and motor vehicle permits supports the operation and maintenance of State parks and recreation areas, and also provides support for grants to local units of government for recreation facility purposes. In total, about $24.2 million was generated from these sources in fiscal year 2013-14.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.