Bill Text: CA AB401 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 401

Introduced

Bill Title: State parks: park entrance fees: waivers: 4th grade children.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)

Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB401 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB401-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 401

Introduced by Assembly Members Mathis and Garcia
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alvarez, Calderon, Jackson, Pellerin, Rodriguez, Schiavo, Villapudua, and Wicks)

February 02, 2023

An act to add Section 5010.2.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to state parks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 401, as introduced, Mathis. State parks: park entrance fees: waivers: 4th grade children.

Existing law gives control of the state park system to the Department of Parks and Recreation, and requires the Director of Parks and Recreation to promote and regulate the use of the state park system in a manner that conserves the scenery, natural and historic resources, and wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations. Existing law authorizes the department to collect fees, rents, and other returns for use of any state park system area, as provided. Existing law prohibits the department from collecting from any group of pupils in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or their escorts, any fee, rental, or other return for use of any unit in the state park system when the group is visiting the area pursuant to a school outing or field trip under the direction of a school personnel, as provided.

This bill, commencing on July 1, 2024, would require the department to waive the day use entrance fees to a unit of the state park system for any child in the 4th grade, or the 4th grade equivalent, who holds a valid federally issued “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, as provided. The bill would require the department to post on its internet website information on how to obtain the federal “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, including a hyperlink to the federal program establishing the pass.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 5010.2.5 is added to the Public Resources Code, immediately following Section 5010.2, to read:

5010.2.5.

(a) (1) The department shall waive the day use entrance fees to a unit of the state park system for any child in the 4th grade, or the 4th grade equivalent, who holds a valid federally issued “Every Kid Outdoors” pass.

(2) The entrance fee waiver pursuant to paragraph (1) shall cover, where applicable, both of the following:

(A) A per vehicle entrance fee, including all passengers in the vehicle, as long as the vehicle is a single, private, noncommercial vehicle that is used to transport the child, described in paragraph (1), to the unit of the state park system.

(B) A per person entrance fee, including up to three adults, 16 years of age and above, and all children, 15 years of age and younger, accompanying the child described in paragraph (1).

(b) The department shall post on its internet website information on how to obtain the federal “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, including a hyperlink to the federal internet website, https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.