WEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2237

By Delegates Boggs and Wamsley

[Introduced February 10, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security then Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §20-5-19 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to allowing free camping at state parks for West Virginia resident veterans who are totally and permanently disabled.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. PARKS AND RECREATION.

§20-5-19. Discounts for West Virginia residents who are totally and permanently disabled; free camping for West Virginia resident veterans who are totally and permanently disabled.

(a) The director shall issue a discount card to West Virginia residents who are totally and permanently disabled which would provide a fifty percent reduction in campground rental fees for each campsite to be used exclusively by the eligible camper: Provided, That in order to be eligible for the reduction, the person shall document that he or she is a resident of this state and that he or she has a total and permanent disability. The director shall promulgate propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code setting forth the documentation which is necessary to prove residency and total and permanent disability: Provided, however, That the fifty percent reduction in campground rental fees applies only to those rentals occurring during the period of time beginning on the day after Labor Day and ending four days prior to Memorial Day.

(b) The director shall issue a card to West Virginia residents who are totally and permanently disabled honorably discharged veterans allowing the waiver of all campground rental fees for those rentals occurring during the period beginning on the day after Labor Day and ending four days prior to Memorial Day that are used exclusively by the eligible camper. The director shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code setting forth the documentation necessary to prove residency, veteran status, and that the applicant suffers from a total and permanent disability.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow resident disabled veterans to camp free at state parks from Labor Day to Memorial Day each year.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.