Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1819, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:

A resident of the State who holds a valid "Golden Access Passport," issued pursuant to 16 United States Code, Section 460L-6a, and any person accompanying the holder in a single, private, noncommercial vehicle are not required to pay a fee for admission to any state-owned park, camping area or beach.

SUMMARY

The "Golden Access Passport," available to United States citizens or permanent residents who are blind or permanently disabled, provides free entrance to most federal recreation areas. This bill provides that a Maine resident who holds a valid Golden Access Passport is not required to pay an entrance fee to any state-owned park, camping area or beach.