The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
BILL: SB 1262
INTRODUCER: Senator Harrell
SUBJECT: State Park Fee Discounts
DATE: March 19, 2021 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Brown Caldwell MS Favorable
2. Rogers Rogers EN Favorable
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 1262 increases the current benefit on state park fees provided to active duty members and
honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces (U.S.A.F.), National Guard, or
reserve components of the U.S.A.F. or National Guard. State park fees generated are deposited
into the State Park Trust Fund, to support the administration, improvement, and maintenance of
state parks. Current law provides a qualifying servicemember or veteran with a 25 percent
discount on an annual entrance pass. This bill increases the benefit to that of a lifetime family
annual entrance pass at no charge.
A reduction in annual revenue generated for the State Park Trust Fund is estimated to be between
$500,000 to $600,000.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
II. Present Situation:
Fees at Florida’s State Parks
Florida’s award-winning state park system contains 175 state parks, including nearly 800,000
acres of state lands and 100 miles of sandy beaches.1 Florida’s state parks include all real
property in the state of Florida under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental
Protection’s (DEP) Division of Recreation and Parks (Division), or real property which may
come under the Division’s jurisdiction regardless of its designation.2 The Division manages and
controls the operation of all of Florida’s state parks.3 There are numerous designations in
1
DEP, Division of Recreation and Parks, https://floridadep.gov/parks (last visited Jan. 16, 2020).
2
Fla. Admin. Code R. 62D-2.013(1).
3
Section 258.004(1), F.S.
BILL: SB 1262 Page 2
Florida’s state park system; and examples include: state park, state preserve, historic site,
archaeological site, botanical site, museum, and culture center.4 In Fiscal Year 2017-2018, over
28 million people visited Florida’s State Parks, generating over $66 million in revenue.5
The Division is authorized to charge reasonable fees for the use of state parks.6 Money from such
fees is deposited in the State Park Trust Fund, which the Division uses for the administration,
improvement, and maintenance of state parks, and for the acquisition and development of lands
acquired for state park purposes.7 The Division’s regulations prohibit any person from entering
and using a state park property without paying any appropriate fees.8 A full stop must be made at
the Ranger Station when entering a park, and no one may enter or leave any state park except
through designated entrance points.9 No person may remain in any park after the posted closing
time unless properly registered as an overnight visitor or in possession of a valid after hours
permit.10
Admission fees at Florida’s state parks currently range between $1 and $10.11 Individual annual
entrance passes are currently $60 and family annual passes are $120.12 Annual entrance passes
generally allow admission to all of Florida’s state parks in lieu of paying the general admission
fee, but other special use fees may be charged at some parks, such as tours or boat launches.13
Standard admission fees and other park fees are recommended by the Division Director and
approved by the Secretary of the DEP.14
The Division’s regulations state that admission fees shall be waived by authorized Division
personnel for government representatives and for individuals who will benefit the state park
system.15 The regulations also state that admission fees shall be waived for: children under six
years old; patients and clients of government-funded mental institutions and certain
organizations for minors; Florida school groups; and Division employees and their families.16
4
Id.
5
DEP, Long Range Program Plan, 52 (Oct. 2018), available at
http://floridafiscalportal.state.fl.us/Document.aspx?ID=18067&DocType=PDF (last visited Mar. 18, 2021).
6
Section 258.014(1), F.S.
7
Id.
8
Fla. Admin. Code. R. 62D-2.014(2)(a); see Fla. Admin. Code. R. 62D-2.015(2). Violating the rules for admission to state
park property constitutes a noncriminal infraction.
9
Id.
10
Fla. Admin. Code. R. 62D-2.014(16)(a).
11
DEP, Florida State Parks Fee Schedule, 1 (Oct. 2013), available at
https://www.floridastateparks.org/sites/default/files/media/file/FPSFeeSchedule.pdf (last visited Mar. 18 2020).
12
Id. The price is $45 for active-duty U.S. military members and veterans.
13
Id.
14
Fla. Admin. Code. R. 62D-2.014(2)(c), (d). The Division Director takes into consideration the following factors when
recommending the fees: user demand, location of the park, cost of managing and operating the park, types of facilities
available, season, and natural and historic resource values of the park.
15
Fla. Admin. Code. R. 62D-2.014(2)(b).
16
Fla. Admin. Code. R. 62D-2.014(2)(b)(1)-(4). Florida citizens who are at least 65 years of age are offered a fifty percent
discount on base camping fees.
BILL: SB 1262 Page 3
Recreation Benefits for Servicemembers and Veterans, Overall
The following discounts on state park fees apply with written documentation to:
Active duty members and honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces
(U.S.A.F), National Guard, or reserve components, 25-percent discount on annual entrance
passes.
Honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities, lifetime family
annual entrance passes at no charge.
Surviving spouses and parents of deceased members of the U.S.A.F., National Guard, or
reserve components who died in combat, lifetime family annual entrance passes at no
charge.17
A partial or full discount on county park fees applies to:
Current members of the U.S.A.F., their reserve components, or the National Guard.
Honorably discharged veterans of the U.S.A.F., a reserve component, or the National Guard,
and those veterans with a service-connected disability.
Surviving spouses and parents of a deceased member of the U.S.A.F, a reserve component,
or the National Guard, who died in combat.18
A member of the U.S.A.F. stationed in the state, or a residing family member, is considered a
resident for purposes of applying for a hunting, fishing, or other recreational license.19 A resident
pays reduced fees on licenses, such as paying $15.50 for an annual freshwater or saltwater
fishing license, rather than $45.50; $15.50 for an annual hunting license to take game, rather than
$150; and $46.50 for the option of an annual combination of a hunting, freshwater fishing, and
saltwater fishing license (no option is available for a combination license for a nonresident).20
Additionally, a licensure exemption is provided for an outdoor hunting, freshwater fishing, or
saltwater fishing recreational event designed to foster rehabilitation or enjoyment among
disabled veterans or active duty or reserve duty servicemembers, a participating servicemember
or veteran, immediate family, and an assistant to the member. This benefit applies to a disabled
veteran or an active duty or reserve duty servicemember of the U.S.A.F., the Coast Guard,
military reserves, or the Florida National Guard.21
An Annual Military Gold Sportsmen’s License is available to a resident active or retired member
of the U.S.A.F., U.S.A.F. Reserve, the National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard, or the U.S. Coast
Guard Reserve. An annual military gold sportsman’s license costs $18.50, rather than the $98.50
charged for the annual gold sportsman’s license. The annual military gold sportsman’s license
authorizes the same activities as the annual gold sportsman’s license.22 Authorized activities are
the taking of freshwater fish, saltwater fish, and game, subject to state and federal law, rules, and
17
Section 258.0145, F.S.
18
Section 125.029, F.S.
19
Section 379.101(30)(b)1., F.S.
20
Section 379.354(4) and (5), F.S.
21
Section 379.353(2)(q), F.S.
22
Section 379.354(4)(i) and (j), F.S.
BILL: SB 1262 Page 4
regulations. Other eligible activities include those authorized by a management area permit, a
muzzle-loading gun season permit, a crossbow season permit, a turkey permit, a Florida
waterfowl permit, a deer permit, an archery season permit, a snook permit, and a spiny lobster
permit.23
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
SB 1262 increases the current benefit on state park fees provided to active duty members and
honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces (U.S.A.F.), National Guard, or
reserve components of the U.S.A.F. or National Guard. Current law provides a qualifying
servicemember or veteran with a 25-percent discount on an annual entrance pass. This bill
increases the benefit to that of a lifetime family annual entrance pass at no charge.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Active duty servicemembers and veterans and their families will pay no annual fee, rather
than a 25-percent discounted fee, for entrance to state parks.
23
Section 379.354(4)(i), F.S.
BILL: SB 1262 Page 5
C. Government Sector Impact:
In Fiscal Year 2019-2020, Florida State Parks received over $500,000 in revenue
associated with entrance passes for active duty servicemembers and honorably discharged
veterans who receive the current 25 percent discount. For the past five years, the average
annual revenue collected was $560,347. Based on this amount, the Department of
Environmental Protection (department) estimates an annual reduction of revenue into the
State Parks Trust Fund to be between $500,000 to $600,000.24 The department also
anticipates an increased workload due to park staff having to issue additional annual
passes to this user group.25
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 258.0145 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
24
Department of Environmental Protection, 2021 Legislative Session, HB 399 (SB 1262) (on file with the Senate Committee
on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security).
25
Id.
Statutes affected: S 1262 Filed: 258.0145