Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 108 First Substitute (2024GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Kwan, K.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/18/2024

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates a one-year pilot program that expands access to state parks to certain veterans who have a Military-Lifetime pass for national parks; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VETERAN ACCESS TO STATE PARKS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Karen Kwan
House Sponsor: 
Matthew H. Gwynn
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill expands veteran access to state parks.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ creates a one-year pilot program that expands access to state parks to certain
veterans who have a Military-Lifetime pass for national parks; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025:
▸ to Department of Veterans and Military Affairs - DVMA Pass Through - DVMA
Pass Through as a one-time appropriation:
• from the General Fund, One-time, $200,000
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-2-279
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 33, 139 and 221
79-4-304
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 140
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
63I-2-279
 is amended to read:
63I-2-279.
Repeal dates: Title 79.
(1) Section 
79-2-206
, Transition, is repealed July 1, 2024.
(2) Section 
79-2-407
, which directs the Department of Natural Resources to study
funding for water infrastructure costs, is repealed July 1, 2025.
(3) Subsection 
79-4-304
(4), which creates a pilot program for veteran free admission to
state parks, is repealed July 1, 2025.
[
(3)
] 
(4)
 Section 
79-7-303
 is repealed on July 1, 2024.
Section 2. Section 
79-4-304
 is amended to read:
79-4-304.
Board rulemaking authority.
(1) [
Rules made by the board shall be made
] 
The board shall make rules
 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
] 
make
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
] 
make
 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:
(i) is a resident of the state; and
(ii) has a current service-connected disability rating issued by the United States
Veterans Benefits Administration.
(4) (a) Beginning on July 1, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2025, the board shall offer a
pilot program that grants free admission to state parks to a veteran who:
(i) is a resident of the state; and
(ii) has an Interagency Military-Lifetime Pass for national parks and federal
recreational lands.
(b) The board may make rules to establish the pilot program described in Subsection
(a).
Section 3. 
FY 2025 Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2024, and ending June 30, 2025. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2025.
Subsection 3(a). 
Operating and Capital Budgets.
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, One-time
$200,000
Schedule of Programs:
DVMA Pass Through
$200,000
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 free
veteran admission to state parks in accordance with Subsection 
79-4-304
(4). 
Section 4. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.