Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes fees for vehicle access to state parks and recreation sites.

Highlights:

• Establishes a $30 charge per vehicle for park visitors to obtain a discover pass, valid for one year, to park or operate a motor vehicle on any recreation site or lands (Sec. 3).

• Establishes a $10 charge per vehicle for park visitors to obtain a day-use permit, valid for one calendar day, to park or operate a motor vehicle on any recreation site or lands (Sec. 4).

• Establishes a vehicle access pass solely for access to the Department of Fish and Wildlife lands, valid for the license year of the license it is purchased with, issued only to individuals who purchase one or more of the following licenses (Sec. 5):
• Big game hunting license;
• Small game hunting license;
• Western Washington pheasant permit;
• Trapping license;
• Watchable wildlife decal; or
• Combination, saltwater, or freshwater personal use fishing license.

• Establishes a $99 penalty for individuals failing to visibly display a discover pass, vehicle access pass, or day-use permit in the front windshield of their motor vehicle while operating on or parking at public park lands, reduced to $59 if an individual provides proof of purchase of the discover pass to the court within 15 days after the issuance of a notice of violation (Sec. 9).

• Establishes the Recreation Pass Account in the state treasury, the first $71 million of which must be distributed to the agencies at each fiscal biennium in the following manner (Sec. 10):
• 8 percent to the Department of Fish and Wildlife and deposited into the State Wildlife Account;
• 8 percent to the Department of Natural Resources and deposited into the Park Land Trust Revolving Fund; and
• 84 percent to the State Parks and Recreation Commission and deposited into the State Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account.

• Specifies that revenues in excess of $71 million must be distributed equally among the agencies to the accounts previously identified at each fiscal biennium (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text