1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; providing permanent, free state park permits to active 
1.3 	military personnel and disabled veterans;amending Minnesota Statutes 2017 
1.4 	Supplement, section 85.053, subdivisions 8, 10.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 85.053, subdivision 8, is amended 
1.7 	to read:
1.8 		Subd. 8.Free permit; military personnel. (a) Annual Permits under subdivision 1 must 
1.9 	be issued without a fee to active military personnel in any branch or unit of the United States 
1.10 	armed forces or their dependents and to recipients of a Purple Heart medal. To qualify for 
1.11 	a free permit under this subdivision, a person must present qualifying military identification 
1.12 	or an annual pass for the United States military issued through the National Parks and Federal 
1.13 	Recreational Lands Pass program to the park attendant on duty or other designee of the 
1.14 	commissioner. Permits issued under this subdivision automatically renew annually from 
1.15 	the date of issue, without charge or reapplication. The on-duty park attendant or other 
1.16 	designee of the commissioner may request proof of continued eligibility under this 
1.17 	subdivision at any time. If a person is unable to provide proof of continued eligibility, the 
1.18 	on-duty park attendant or other designee of the commissioner may revoke the permit. A 
1.19 	person whose permit is revoked is not barred from reapplying for a benefit under this section.
1.20 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, the commissioner shall establish what constitutes 
1.21 	qualifying military identification in the State Register.
2.1 	(c) For vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this 
2.2 	subdivision is valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person 
2.3 	to whom the permit is issued.
2.4 	(d) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual 
2.5 	who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.

2.6 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 85.053, subdivision 10, is amended 
2.7 	to read:
2.8 		Subd. 10.Free permit; disabled veterans. (a) The commissioner shall issue an annual
2.9 	a park permit for no charge to any veteran with any level of service-connected disability, 
2.10 	as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, who presents each year 
2.11 	a copy of the veteran's determination letter or other official form of validation issued by the 
2.12 	United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of Defense 
2.13 	to a park attendant or commissioner's designee. For the purposes of this subdivision, "veteran" 
2.14 	has the meaning given in section 197.447. Permits issued under this subdivision automatically 
2.15 	renew annually from the date of issue, without charge or reapplication. The on-duty park 
2.16 	attendant or other designee of the commissioner may request proof of continued eligibility 
2.17 	under this subdivision at any time. If a person is unable to provide proof of continued 
2.18 	eligibility, the on-duty park attendant or other designee of the commissioner may revoke 
2.19 	the permit. A person whose permit is revoked is not barred from reapplying for a benefit 
2.20 	under this section.
2.21 	(b) For vehicles permitted under paragraph (a), the permit or decal issued under this 
2.22 	subdivision is valid only when displayed on a vehicle owned and occupied by the person 
2.23 	to whom the permit is issued.
2.24 	(c) The commissioner may issue a daily vehicle permit free of charge to an individual 
2.25 	who qualifies under paragraph (a) and does not own or operate a motor vehicle.