85R9144 AAF-D     By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1565       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a waiver of certain state park fees for military service   members and veterans.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 13.018(a) and (c), Parks and Wildlife   Code, are amended 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)  a veteran or an active duty member of:                      (A)  the armed services of the United States;                      (B)  the Texas Army National Guard;                      (C)  the Texas Air National Guard; or                      (D)  the Texas State Guard [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)  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 veteran or active duty member of the armed   services described by Subsection (a)(2) 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.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.