Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 155 First Substitute (2022GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Schultz, M.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/22/2022

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• expands the State Parks Honor Pass Program to all veterans with any percentage of disability rating from the Veterans Administration.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VETERAN ACCESS TO STATE PARKS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Mike Schultz
Senate Sponsor: 
Michael K. McKell
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to veteran access to state parks.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ expands the State Parks Honor Pass Program to all veterans with any percentage of
disability rating from the Veterans Administration.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023:
▸ to the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through as an
ongoing appropriation:
• from the General Fund, Ongoing, $315,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
79-4-304
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 142
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
79-4-304
 is amended to read:
79-4-304.
Board rulemaking authority.
(1) Rules made by the board shall be made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3,
Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
(2) (a) The board may make rules:
(i) governing the use of the state park system;
(ii) to protect state parks and their natural and cultural resources from misuse or
damage, including watersheds, plants, wildlife, and park amenities; and
(iii) to provide for public safety and preserve the peace within state parks.
(b) To accomplish the purposes stated in Subsection (2)(a), the board may enact rules
that:
(i) close or partially close state parks; or
(ii) establish use or access restrictions within state parks.
(c) Rules made under Subsection (2) may not have the effect of preventing the transfer
of livestock along a livestock highway established in accordance with Section 
72-3-112
.
(3) The board shall adopt rules:
(a) governing the collection of charges under Subsection 
79-4-203
(8); and
(b) granting free admission to state parks to an honorably discharged veteran who [
is
]:
(i) 
is
 a resident of the state; and
(ii) has a current service-connected disability rating issued by the United States
Veterans Benefits Administration.
[
(ii) at least 50% disabled, as evidenced by documentation from:
]
[
(A) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
]
[
(B) an active component of the United States armed forces; or
]
[
(C) a reserve component of the United States armed forces.
]
Section 2. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2022, and ending June 30, 2023. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2023. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
ITEM 1
To Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through
From General Fund
$315,000
Schedule of Programs:
DVMA Pass Through $315,000
The Legislature intends that the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs pass
through the appropriation under this section to the Division of State Parks to pay for disabled
veterans' free annual park passes.