H. B. 2880
(By Delegates Householder, Iaquinta, Border, Barrett,
P. Smith, J. Nelson, Paxton, Cadle and Cooper)
[Introduced March 8, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §20-3-3a, relating
to provide special outdoor recreational opportunities for
eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces; and rules.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §20-3-3a, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 3. FORESTS AND WILDLIFE AREAS
§20-3-3a. Providing special outdoor recreational opportunities for
eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
__(a) The Division of Natural Resources shall designate one or
more areas of state wildlife management areas as a "Wounded Warrior
Special Hunt Area" to honor wounded veterans and members of the
Armed Forces. The purpose of such designated areas is to provide
special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
__(b) Guest admittance to such designated areas shall be limited
to any person who:
__(1) Is an active duty member of any branch of the United
States Armed Forces and has a combat-related injury as determined
by his or her branch of the United States Armed Forces; or
__(2) Is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States
Armed Forces and:
__(A) Has a service-connected disability as determined by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or
__(B) Was discharged or released from military service because
of a disability acquired or aggravated while serving on active
duty.
__(c) The division may grant admittance to such designated areas
to a person who is not an eligible veteran or member of the Armed
Forces for purposes of accompanying an eligible veteran or member
of the Armed Forces who requires the person's assistance to use
such designated areas.
__(d) The director shall propose rules for legislative approval
in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-
nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to designate one or more
areas of state wildlife management areas as a "Wounded Warrior
Special Hunt Area" to provide special outdoor recreational opportunities for eligible veterans and members of the Armed Forces
who have certain service related injuries or disabilities.
This section is new; therefore, it has been completely
underscored.