SB 30-STATE PARK PERMITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS  4:15:41 PM CHAIR GIESSEL reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 30 "An Act making certain veterans eligible for a lifetime permit to access state park campsites and the parking and restrooms of developed facilities without charge; and providing for an effective date." She noted this was the second hearing of SB 30 by the Senate Resources Standing Committee. [Before the committee is CSSB 30, work order 34-LS0293\I, adopted February 3, 2025.] 4:16:01 PM SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, District D, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 30, gave an overview of SB 30. He paraphrased the following sponsor statement. [Original punctuation provided.] SB 30 State Park Permits for Disabled Veterans  Version I Sponsor Statement  Senate Bill 30 would allow disabled veterans who have honorably served our country to have a free lifetime permit to Alaska State Parks. The permit will provide access to developed campsites, parking areas, and restrooms. Currently under statute, disabled veterans qualify for a free annual permit that must be reapplied for each year. By changing the term of the permit to a lifetime pass, it will be easier for disabled veterans to take advantage of this opportunity. In addition, the annual permit does not currently allow for free parking at Alaska State Parks. By including parking, disabled veterans will have greater access to the benefits provided by our parks. I believe that those who have served their nation in the military deserve the utmost respect and have earned the right to enjoy the beauty of our great state that they have defended and sacrificed for. I respectfully ask for your support of this legislation for the benefit of our disabled veterans. SENATOR BJORKMAN noted that disabled veterans qualified for passes to Alaska State Parks, however the current pass system applied only to camping. He said SB 30 would simplify the process for a qualified veteran. 4:17:27 PM CHAIR GIESSEL noted that Director Gease was available to answer questions. 4:17:33 PM CHAIR GIESSEL opened public testimony on SB 30; finding none, she closed public testimony. 4:17:56 PM SENATOR DUNBAR asked what definition or degree of disability would qualify for the pass, how many people were expected to obtain the pass and what effect the pass was expected to have on state park revenues. 4:18:52 PM RICKY GEASE, Director, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Anchorage, Alaska, said the definition of disability was not in statute or regulation. DNR employed the US Department of Veterans Affairs definition of service-connected disability. He said there were about 2400 people on the current five-year [camping] pass. He thought there were around 18,000 service members in Alaska. He emphasized that the [camping pass] was a benefit that accrued to any veteran in the country, although of the current Disabled Veteran (DAV) passes, he estimated only three to four percent were from out of state. He said that if SB 30 passes there will be two different passes, one for the veterans camping pass, and one will be a parking pass. He said DNR anticipated that the parking pass would be more popular than the camping pass, and at this point, estimated [5,000] people would use it. 4:20:49 PM SENATOR DUNBAR assumed it was mostly Alaska residents taking advantage of the current benefit. He asked whether the parking pass was expected to be more popular than the current park [camping] pass. 4:21:28 PM MR. GEASE affirmed that DNR anticipated about 5,000 applicants for the parking pass. 4:22:06 PM SENATOR HUGHES referred to the fiscal note from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), OMB Component Number 3001, dated January 31, 2025. She noted that the narrative said the passes were for Alaskan veterans and suggested correcting it to include all US veterans. 4:22:56 PM CHAIR GIESSEL solicited the will of the committee. 4:23:22 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to report CSSB 30, work order 34- LS0293\I, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:23:40 PM CHAIR GIESSEL found no objection and CSSB 30(RES) was reported from Senate Resources Standing Committee.