 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
veterans; state park fees; exemption
Purpose
Exempts a veteran or member of the National Guard who is retired or has a service-connected disability from Arizona State Parks admission fees.
Background
The Arizona State Parks Board (ASPB) is responsible for managing the state parks system and may levy and collect reasonable fees or other charges for the use of privileges provided under the jurisdiction of the ASPB. The ASPB manages the State Park Revenue Fund which consists of: 1) park merchandise revenue; 2) monies appropriated by the Legislature; 3) gifts and donations; 4) all monies derived from state park user fees, concession fees and other revenue generating activities; 5) surcharges on park reservations; and 6) the sale of park assets (A.R.S. §§ 41-511.05 and 41-511.21).
Arizona State Parks offers day use discounts to retired or active-duty service members and veterans with a service-connected disability. All retired or active-duty service members and veterans with a service-connected disability rated at less than 100 percent receive 50 percent off a day-use entrance pass. A veteran with a service-connected disability whose disability rating is 100 percent receives a 100 percent free day-use pass (Arizona State Parks).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation. However, if exempting veterans from state park admission fees results in a change to the amount of monies derived from state park fees, there may be a fiscal impact to the State Park Revenue Fund.
Provisions
1. Exempts, from admission fees for all state parks:
a) a retired veteran;
b) a retired member of the National Guard;
c) a veteran with a service-connected disability; and
d) a member of the National Guard with a service-connected disability.
2. Includes, in the exemption from admission fees for all state parks, all passengers in the same personal vehicle as the veteran or member for sites that charge per vehicle or the veteran or member and up to three people for sites that charge per person.
3. Requires the veteran or member, to be exempt from any admission fees, to present the person's driver license with veteran designation or U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs identification card.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the Appropriations, Transportation & Technology Committee
1. Narrows the eligibility for exemption from state park admission fees to only a retired veteran, a retired member of the National Guard or a veteran or member of the National Guard with a service-connected disability.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
FMAE 1/28/26 DPA 6-0-0-1 GOV 3/25/26 DP 4-2-1
3rd Read 3/9/26 52-0-7-0-1 ATT 3/31/26 DPA 6-4-0
Prepared by Senate Research
April 1, 2026
AN/ci