1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/10/2017 10:06am
A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying military and veteran eligibility requirements
for state park permits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053,
subdivisions 8, 10.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
(a) deleted text begin A one-day permit,deleted text end new text begin Annual
permitsnew text end under subdivision deleted text begin 4, shalldeleted text end new text begin 1 mustnew text end be issued without a fee deleted text begin for a motor vehicle being
used by a person who is serving indeleted text end new text begin tonew text end active military deleted text begin servicedeleted text end new text begin personnelnew text end in any branch or unit
of the United States armed forces deleted text begin and who is stationed outside Minnesota, during the period
of active service and for 90 days immediately thereafter, if thedeleted text end new text begin or their dependents and to
recipients of a Purple Heart medal. To qualify for a free permit under this subdivision, anew text end
person deleted text begin presents the person's current military ordersdeleted text end new text begin must present qualifying military
identification or an annual pass for the United States military issued through the National
Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass programnew text end to the park attendant on duty or other
designee of the commissioner.
(b) For purposes of this deleted text begin section, "active service" has the meaning given under section
190.05, subdivision 5c, when performed outside Minnesota.deleted text end new text begin subdivision, the commissioner
shall establish what constitutes qualifying military identification by written order published
in the State Register. The written order is exempt from the rulemaking provisions of chapter
14, and section 14.386 does not apply.
new text end
(c) deleted text begin A permit is not required for a motor vehicle being used by military personnel or their
dependents who have in their possession the annual pass for United States military and their
dependents issued by the federal government for access to federal recreation sites.deleted text end new text begin For
vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this subdivision is
valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person to whom the
permit is issued.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual
who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 85.053, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner shall issue
an annual park permit for no charge to any veteran deleted text begin with a total and permanent
service-connected disability, and a daily park permit to any resident veterandeleted text end with any level
of service-connected disability, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, who presents each year a copy of the veteran's determination letter new text begin or other official
form of validation issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United
States Department of Defense new text end to a park attendant or commissioner's designee. For the
purposes of this deleted text begin sectiondeleted text end new text begin subdivisionnew text end , "veteran" has the meaning given in section 197.447.
new text begin
(b) For vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this
subdivision is valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person
to whom the permit is issued.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual
who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.
new text end