An Act To Provide Free Admission to State Parks to All Maine Veterans
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1488
Committee Amendment CA_A_H572 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10853, 37-B MRSA §6, 37-B MRSA §7, 37-B MRSA §8

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "1+ " to H.P. 1043, L.D. 1488, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Free Admission to State Parks to All Maine Veterans" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1819-A in the first paragraph in the 5th line (page I, 
line 17 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "6" and inserting the following: '6.li' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 1819-A in the first paragraph by striking out the next 
to last sentence (page 1, lines 17 to 19 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 'The pass 
entitles the holder, and the holder's spouse and children ;,,,hen accompanied by the holder, 
to admission free of charge to all state parks and historic sites for the nerind descrihed in 
Title 37 B. section 6.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section I the following: 
'Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10853, sub-§13, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 268, §2, is 
amended to read: 
13. 
Certain veterans. 
The commissioner shall enter into a memorandum of 
agreement with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management for 
the issuance of a free resident hunting license and a free resident fishing license to each 
veteran determined by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management 
to meet the criteria established in Title 37-B, section 6 2 and other criteria for issuance of 
licenses. Each license is valid for the period described in Title 37-B, section 62. This 
subsection is repealed June 30,2010.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 220, §3 and affected by §5, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §7, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 220, §4, is amended to read: 
§7. Issuance of free day use pass to active military personnel 
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, in accordance 
with a memorandum of agreement entered into with the Commissioner of Conservation 
Page I - 124LR2014(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1043, L.D. 1488 
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 
eligibility. 
3. Responsibilities of commissioner. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall identify a point of contact within the department to issue 
I passes in accordance with this section and the memorandum of agreement entered into 
with the Department Commissioner of Conservation. The commissioner Commissioner 
of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management 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. 4. 37-B MRSA §8 is enacted to read: 
§8. Issuance of free day use pass to veterans 
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. 
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 DD214, whether the following criteria are met: 
A. The person is a resident of this State; and 
B. The person received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable 
conditions. 
2. 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, Title 12, section 1819-A and the memorandum of 
agreement entered into with the Commissioner of Conservation. The Commissioner of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management 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 beginning dates for those passes. 
A pass issued under this section does not expire and is valid for the lifetime of the holder. 
Sec. 5. 37-B MRS A §9 is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A " 
to H.P. 1043, L.D. 1488 
§9. Issuance of free fishing license and free hunting license to veterans 
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, in accordance 
with a memorandum of agreement entered into with the Commissioner of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife and this section, shall issue a free fishing license and free hunting 
license to eligible veterans who 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 DD214, 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 
cond itions; and 
C. Between October 1, 2001 and January 1, 2010, while a member of the Maine 
National Guard or an active or reserve member of the unifonned services as defined 
in 10 United States Code, Section 10 1(a)e5), 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 ofthe United States or Congress. 
2. Duration of licenses. A license 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 memorandum of agreement between the commissioners may allow issuance of 
licenses for a period longer than 12 months. 
3. Responsibilities of commissioner. The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management shall identify a point of contact within the department to issue 
licenses in accordance with this section and the memorandum of agreement entered into 
with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The Commissioner of Defense, 
Veterans and Emergency Management shall periodically report to the Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 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, 2010. 
Sec. 6. Transition. A free day use pass to state parks and historic sites issued to a 
veteran in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 37-B, section 6 prior to June 
30,2010 is valid for free admission for the veteran and that veteran's spouse and children 
when they are accompanying the pass holder until the expiration date on the pass. A pass 
issued after the effective date of this Act entitles only the veteran to free day use 
admission. 
The Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management shall accept 
requests for passes under Title 37-B, section 8 on the effective date of this Act and begin 
issuing the new passes no later than 6 months after the effective date of this Act. The 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT ,A "to H.P. 1043, L.D.1488 
Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and the Commissioner 
of Conservation shall confer and determine if other easily recognizable identification held 
by veterans may be used to verify eligibility for free admission pending the issuance of 
the passes by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. 
Sec. 7. Authority to submit legislation. The. Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may submit legislation to the Second Regular 
Session of the 124th Legislature regarding the issuance of free day use passes to 
veterans.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It specifies that free day use passes to state parks 
and historic sites issued to veterans after the effective date of this legislation provide free 
admission only to the veteran and that this benefit does not terminate, The amendment 
bifurcates the day pass and the free fishing and hunting license provisions and maintains 
the repeal date of June 30, 2010 for the free licenses. 
It directs the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management to begin 
issuing passes under the new criteria within 6 months after the effective date of the 
legislation. 
It requires the Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management to confer with the Commissioner of Conservation to determine if other 
identification held by veterans may be used to determine eligibility for free admission 
pending the issuance of the passes. This amendment authorizes the Joint Standing 
Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to submit legislation pertaining to 
the issuance of passes to veterans to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 06/09/09 
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LD 1488 
LR 2014(02) 
An Act To Provide Free Admission to State Parks to All Maine Veterans 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium revenue decrease - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Allowing free admission to state parks and historlc sites to all veterans who received an honorable discharge or 
general discharge under honorable conditions would result in a reduction of General Fund revenues, No estimate is 
made at this time. 
Additional costs to the Departments of Conservation and Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources, 
LR2014(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1