An Act To Provide Free Admission to State Parks to Veterans and Military Personnel
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0456
Committee Amendment CA_A_S69 (Senate)
Amends: 12 MRSA §1819-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 159, L.D. 456, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Free Admission to State Parks to Veterans and Military Personnel" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRS A §1819-A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 268, § 1, is amended to 
read: 
§1819-A. Day.use passes for certain veterans 
Notwithstanding section 1819, the commissioner shall enter into a memorandum of 
agreement with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for 
the issuance of a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites to each veteran 
determined by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to meet 
the criteria established in Title 37-B, section 6. The pass entitles the holder, and the 
holder's spouse and children when accompanied by the holder, to admission free of 
charge to all state parks and historic sites for the period described in Title 37-B, section 6. 
This section is repealed June 30, ;w.w 2015. 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §1819-B is enacted to read: 
§1819-B. Day use passes for active military personnel 
Notwithstanding section 1819, the commissioner shall enter into a memorandum of 
agreement with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for 
the issuance of a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites to each active duty 
military member determined by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management to meet the criteria established in Title 37-B, section 7. The pass entitles 
the holder, and the holder's spouse and children when accompanied by the holder, to 
admission free of charge to all state parks and historic sites. 
Sec. 3. 37-B MRS A §6, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 268, §3, is amended to read: 
Page] -124LRI096(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
" .• " 
COMM[TTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. [59, L.D. 456 
§6. Issuance of free day use pass 
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, in accordance 
with a memorandum of agreement entered into with the Commissioner of Conservation 
and this section, shall issue a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites to eligible 
veterans. The commissioner, in accordance with a memorandum of agreement entered 
into '.vith the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and \Vildlife and this section, shall issue a 
free fishing license and free hunting license to eligible veterans ,.",ho meet other criteria of 
the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for the issuance of licenses. 
1. Eligibility. The Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management 
shall determine, based on an examination of an individual's discharge certificate from 
active duty services, also known as the 00214, whether the following criteria are met: 
A. The person is a resident of this State; 
B. The person received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable 
conditions; and 
C. Between October 1, 2001 and January 1, WW 2015, while a member of the 
Maine National Guard or an active or reserve member of the uniformed services as 
defined in 10 United States Code, Section 101(a)(5), the person served for a 
minimum of 3 continuous months outside the United States either: 
(1) On an operational mission for which members of the reserve were ordered to 
active duty; or 
(2) During a period of war declared by the United States Congress or a period of 
national emergency declared by the President of the United States or Congress. 
2. Duration of passes. A license or pass issued in accordance with this section is 
valid for a minimum of 12 months from the date of an eligible veteran's discharge from 
active duty. The memoranda memorandum of agreement between the departments may 
allow issuance of passes or licenses for a period longer than 12 months. 
3. Res"ponsibilities of commissioner. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall identity a point of contact within the department to issue 
licenses and passes in accordance with this section and the memoranda memorandum of 
agreement entered into with Ithe Department of Conservation and the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 
The commissioner shall periodically report to the 
Department of Conservation with a listing of the names and addresses of all persons 
receiving passes to state parks and historic sites and the expiration dates for those passes. 
The department shall periodically report to the Department of Inland Fisheries and 
\Vildlife with a listing of the names and addresses of all persons receiving fishing licenses 
and hunting licenses and the expiration dates for those licenses. 
4. Repeal. This section is repealed June 30, WW 2015. 
Sec. 4. 37-B MRS A §7 is enacted to read: 
§7. Issuance of free day use pass 
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, in accordance 
with a memorandum of agreement entered into with the Commissioner of Conservation 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A 
"to S.P. 159, L.D. 456 
and this section, shall issue a free day use pass to state parks and historic sites to eligible 
active duty military personnel. 
1. Eligibility. The Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management 
shall determine, based on an examination of an individual's military identification, 
whether the following criteria are met: 
A. The person's home of residence is this State; and 
B. The person is serving in an enlisted grade in the armed forces as defined in 10 
United States Code, Section 101(a)(4). 
2. Duration of passes. A pass issued in accordance with this section is valid for 12 
months from the date of issuance and may be renewed upon verification of continuing 
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eligibility. 
3. Responsibilities of commissioner. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall identify a point of contact within the department to issue 
passes in accordance with this section and the memorandum of agreement entered into 
IS 
with the Department of Conservation. The commissioner shall periodically report to the 
Department of Conservation with a listing of the names and addresses of all persons 
receiving passes to state parks and historic sites and the expiration dates for those passes. 
Sec. 5. Effective date. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 37-B, section 6 takes effect June 30,20 I 0.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It extends the period of time that free day use 
passes to state parks and historic sites for certain veterans may be issued until June 30, 
2015. It also provides for the issuance of free passes to active military personnel whose 
home of residence is Maine. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/08/09 
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LD456 
LR 1096(02) 
An Act To Provide Free Admission to State Parks to Veterans and Military Personnel 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A II 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium revenue decrease - General Fund 
Allowing free admission to state-owned parks, camping areas and beaches to active duty members or veterans of the 
Anned Forces would result in a reduction of General Fund revenues which cannot be reasonably determined. 
Additional costs to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management can be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources. 
LRI 096(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1 
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