SPONSOR:	Rep. Miro & Sen. Blevins;
	Reps. Hocker, Hudson, Keeley, Spence, Ulbrich; Sens. Simpson, Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

142nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 318

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STATE PARKS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Three-fifths of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend §4701(a)(5)(B), Title 7 of the Delaware Code by redesignating the text of subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (B)(i) and by adding a new subparagraph (B)(ii) to read:

“(ii) A Delaware resident who is 65 years of age or older and who owns a motor vehicle registered in Delaware may pay a one-time fee of $45.00, which will permit any vehicle owned by the resident and registered in Delaware to enter any State park or recreation area for the lifetime of the resident, so long as the resident is the operator of his or her vehicle at the time of entrance to the State park or recreation area to which admission is sought. An applicant for a lifetime permit must furnish proof of age, vehicle ownership, and vehicle registration at the time application for the permit is made. All fees collected under the authority of this subparagraph must be deposited in the General Fund and designated solely for park operations and maintenance.”.

Section 2. Entrance into State parks and recreation areas by displaying a lifetime permit issued pursuant to this Act begins on May 1, 2005. However, the sale of lifetime permits may begin in December 2004.

SYNOPSIS

This bill allows a Delaware resident who is 65 or older and who owns a motor vehicle registered in Delaware to purchase a lifetime permit to enter Delaware State parks or recreation areas. The one-time permit fee covers all vehicles owned by a permit holder, so long as the permit holder is the operator of the vehicle when the vehicle enters a park or recreation area. The bill will give a resident 65 or older an option of purchasing an annual permit for $10.00 (under the present law) or a lifetime permit for $45.00.

If spouses travel together, only one spouse needs to purchase a permit. However, if spouses intend to travel separately, each spouse will need to purchase a permit.