An Act to amend 27.01 (9) (bn) (title); to create 27.01 (9) (bg) of the statutes; Relating to: fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE)
Summary
SB19 would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to waive the fee for an annual state park vehicle admission receipt for certain vehicles owned by a parent or guardian of a child who has a valid U.S. National Park Service Every Kid Outdoors pass. The waiver would apply to vehicles with Wisconsin registration plates, except motor buses, and would cover both the admission receipt fee and the issuing fee. The bill is aimed at families of 4th-grade students who qualify for the federal Every Kid Outdoors program, which provides free national park admission.
The bill also makes a technical change to the title of an existing statutory provision on annual vehicle admission receipt fee waivers, which currently references service members, to add a new category for 4th graders. In practical terms, it would expand state park access benefits by tying a state fee waiver to a federal youth recreation pass program. The bill does not appear to change park admission rules generally, but it would reduce the cost of obtaining the required vehicle admission receipt for eligible families.
Impact
SB19 would amend Wisconsin Statutes section 27.01(9) by creating a new fee-waiver category for annual vehicle admission receipts and by revising the title of an existing subsection. The Department of Natural Resources would be required to waive the fee and issuing fee for qualifying vehicles owned by a parent or guardian of a child with a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass. This would affect state park vehicle admission revenue and expand the list of groups eligible for fee relief under state law.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript, recorded votes, or other debate on the bill, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to summarize. Based on the bill’s straightforward purpose, it appears to be a low-conflict access and family-benefit measure rather than a controversial policy change. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of discussion, if any, would likely involve the fiscal impact of waiving vehicle admission fees, the administrative burden on the Department of Natural Resources, and whether the benefit should be limited to families of children with a federal 4th-grade pass. However, the record provided does not identify any legislators or stakeholders taking opposing positions.
Crossfiled
An Act to amend 27.01 (9) (bn) (title); to create 27.01 (9) (bg) of the statutes; Relating to: fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE)