1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; modifying military and veteran eligibility requirements 
1.3 	for state park permits;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, 
1.4 	subdivisions 8, 10.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 8.Free permit; military personnel; exemption. (a) A one-day permit, Annual 
1.8 	permits under subdivision 4, shall 1 must be issued without a fee for a motor vehicle being 
1.9 	used by a person who is serving in to active military service personnel in any branch or unit 
1.10 	of the United States armed forces and who is stationed outside Minnesota, during the period 
1.11 	of active service and for 90 days immediately thereafter, if the or their dependents and to 
1.12 	recipients of a Purple Heart medal. To qualify for a free permit under this subdivision, a
1.13 	person presents the person's current military orders must present qualifying military 
1.14 	identification or an annual pass for the United States military issued through the National 
1.15 	Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program to the park attendant on duty or other 
1.16 	designee of the commissioner.
1.17 	(b) For purposes of this section, "active service" has the meaning given under section 
1.18 	190.05, subdivision 5c, when performed outside Minnesota. subdivision, the commissioner 
1.19 	shall establish what constitutes qualifying military identification by written order published 
1.20 	in the State Register. The written order is exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter 
1.21 	14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
1.22 	(c) A permit is not required for a motor vehicle being used by military personnel or their 
1.23 	dependents who have in their possession the annual pass for United States military and their 
2.1 	dependents issued by the federal government for access to federal recreation sites. For 
2.2 	vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this subdivision is 
2.3 	valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person to whom the 
2.4 	permit is issued.
2.5 	(d) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual 
2.6 	who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.

2.7 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
2.8 		Subd. 10.Free entrance permit; disabled veterans. (a) The commissioner shall issue 
2.9 	an annual park permit for no charge to any veteran with a total and permanent 
2.10 	service-connected disability, and a daily park permit to any resident veteran with any level 
2.11 	of service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans 
2.12 	Affairs, who presents each year a copy of the veteran's determination letter or other official 
2.13 	form of validation issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United 
2.14 	States Department of Defense to a park attendant or commissioner's designee. For the 
2.15 	purposes of this section subdivision, "veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.
2.16 	(b) For vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this 
2.17 	subdivision is valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person 
2.18 	to whom the permit is issued.
2.19 	(c) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual 
2.20 	who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.