To amend section 1546.04 of the Revised Code to require the ODNR Chief of the Division of Parks and Watercraft to establish a discount program for veterans and service members for park services and rentals.
Summary
SB 223 amends Ohio Revised Code section 1546.04 governing the Division of Parks and Watercraft’s rulemaking authority. The bill requires the chief of the division, with approval from the director of natural resources, to adopt a discount program for veterans and service members. Under the new program, eligible veterans and service members would receive a 25% discount on park services and rentals, but not on merchandise. The bill also continues the existing discount program for Golden Buckeye cardholders, who may receive discounts on park services and rentals, but not merchandise.
The bill defines acceptable documentation for veterans and service members to prove eligibility, including an Ohio veterans identification card, certain Department of Defense identification cards, military annual or lifetime passes, and a VA health identification card. The measure leaves intact the division’s broader authority to regulate state parks, watercraft, boating safety, fees for classes and inspections, and other park operations, while also preserving the prohibition on charging admission or parking fees for state parks.
Impact
SB 223 would directly change section 1546.04 of the Revised Code by adding a mandatory veterans and service members discount program to ODNR’s park rules. It would require the Division of Parks and Watercraft to implement the discount through administrative rulemaking and would affect pricing for park services and rentals statewide, while excluding merchandise purchases from the discount. The bill does not create new admission or parking fees and does not alter the division’s existing authority over park management, boating regulation, and related fees.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition in the Senate, with the bill passing committee 6-0 and the full Senate 33-0. The cosponsor list is broad and includes members from both parties, suggesting the proposal was viewed favorably across the chamber. No committee transcript was provided, but the unanimous votes indicate general agreement with providing a targeted benefit to veterans and service members.
Contention
No major points of contention are evident in the available record. The main policy choice reflected in the bill is the scope of the discount: it applies to park services and rentals only, not merchandise, and requires specific forms of documentation to verify eligibility. Any potential concerns would likely center on administrative implementation, revenue effects on park operations, or the precise definition of qualifying proof, but none of those issues appear to have generated recorded opposition in the provided materials.
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