88R19541 MP-D     By: Leach, Garcia, et al. H.B. No. 1740       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the issuance of state parklands passports to and a   waiver of certain state park fees for certain veterans, active duty   armed forces members, and certain family members of a person who   died while serving in the United States armed forces.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 13.018, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding   Subsection (f) to read as follows:          (a)  The following people may apply to the department for a   state parklands passport:                (1)  a resident of this state who is 65 years old or   over who has resided in the state for six consecutive months   preceding the date of application for a parklands passport[, a   member of the United States armed forces on active duty who is 65   years old or over,] or any other individual in a category that the   commission by rule designates as a resident of this state who is 65   years old or over;                (2)  an honorably discharged [a] veteran of the United   States armed services [of the United States who, as a result of   military service, has a service-connected disability, as defined by   the Veterans' Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a   lower extremity or of a 60 percent disability rating and who is   receiving compensation from the United States because of the   disability]; [and]                (3)  a member of the United States armed services on   active duty;                (4)  a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a   person who died while serving in the United States armed forces; and                (5)  an individual who has a physical or mental   impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life   activities of the individual.          (c)  The holder of a state parklands passport issued on or   before August 31, 1995, a person whose birth date is before   September 1, 1930, or a person [veteran] described by Subsection   (a)(2), (3), or (4) is entitled to enter any state park without   payment of an entrance or admission fee.  When a fee is charged by   the department for entrance of a vehicle into a state park, the   vehicle of the holder of a state parklands passport is exempt from   the fee when the holder is present.          (e)  A state parklands passport issued to a person described   by Subsection (a)(3) is valid for one year from the date of issuance   and may be renewed in the manner prescribed by commission rule.          (f)  The commission by rule shall establish eligibility   requirements and privileges available to the holder of a state   parklands passport described by Subsection (a)(5) [(a)(3)].          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.