Parks entry passes authorize entry privileges to parks where entry fees apply but are not valid for activity or other applicable fees.
  (1) Annual Park Entrance Passes.
    (A) A valid annual park entrance pass authorizes park entry without payment of an individual entrance fee for the holder of the annual pass, and:
      (i) all occupants in the same vehicle with the holder of the annual park entrance pass if the holder of the annual park entrance pass is entering by noncommercial motor vehicle;
      (ii) up to 14 persons accompanying the pass holder in the same boat if the holder of the annual park entrance pass is entering by boat; or
      (iii) up to 14 persons accompanying the pass holder if the holder of the annual park entrance pass is entering by motorcycle, bicycle or on foot.
    (B) An annual park entrance pass is valid only for private, noncommercial use and is not valid for:
      (i) buses or similar vehicles; or
      (ii) commercial use such as tour groups.
    (C) An annual park entrance pass is not valid unless presented by the person named on the pass.
    (D) The fee for an annual park entrance pass shall be established by the executive director within the range of $50 - $100.
    (E) The fee for an annual park entrance pass that is part of a promotional drawing under the provisions of §51.750 of this title (relating to Promotional Drawings), of this title is $0.
  (2) Youth Group Annual Entrance Pass.
    (A) A youth group annual entrance pass authorizes entry to any state park without payment of an individual entrance fee for up to a total of 50 persons belonging to a nonprofit youth organization.
    (B) The department on a case-by-case basis may limit the number of adult supervisors entering a park under this subsection. Vehicles entering a park under a single youth group pass may be subject to additional fees if the number of vehicles exceeds the vehicle capacity for the campsite.
    (C) The fee for a pass under this subsection shall be established by the executive director within the range of $50 - $300.
    (D) A youth group annual entrance pass is valid for 12 months from date of purchase.
  (3) State Parklands Passport. A state parklands passport shall be issued at no cost to any person meeting the criteria established by Parks and Wildlife Code, §13.018. For the purposes of this paragraph, "accompanying" means entering a park simultaneously with the passport holder.
    (A) A state parklands passport issued to a person in a category listed in this subparagraph authorizes the entry of the person to any state park without payment of an individual entrance fee, and includes the waiver of the entry fee for one person accompanying and providing assistance to the passport holder:
      (i) a person whose birth date is before September 1, 1930;
      (ii) a veteran of the armed services of the United States who, as a result of military service, has a service-connected disability, as defined by the Veterans' Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a lower extremity or of a 60 percent disability rating and who is receiving compensation from the United States because of the disability; or
      (iii) a holder of a state parklands passport issued on or before August 31, 1995.
    (B) A state parklands passport issued to a person in a category listed in this subparagraph authorizes the entry of the person to any state park without payment of an individual entrance fee but does not waive or reduce the entrance fee for any person accompanying the passport holder:
      (i) an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed services;
      (ii) a member of the United States armed services on active duty; and
      (iii) the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a person who died while serving in the United States armed services.
    (C) To be eligible for issuance of a state parklands passport under the provisions of Parks and Wildlife Code, §13.018(a)(3), a person must submit government-issued personal identification and one of the following:
      (i) an Award of Benefits Letter or a Statement of Benefits from the Social Security Administration that attests to the applicant's permanent disability; or
      (ii) an affidavit or attestation on a form approved by the department certifying that the applicant meets the requirements of Parks and Wildlife Code, §13.018(a)(3) and this subsection.
    (D) A state parklands passport issued to a person in a category listed in this subparagraph who does not otherwise qualify under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph authorizes the entry of the person to any state park upon payment of 50% of the posted entrance fee for the park, rounded to the nearest higher whole dollar, which shall also apply to one person accompanying and providing assistance to the passport holder.
      (i) a Texas resident whose birth date is after August 31, 1930; or
      (ii) an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual.
    (E) A parklands passport is nontransferable.
    (F) The department may collect a fee for a replacement state parklands passport.

Source Note: The provisions of this §59.3 adopted to be effective April 10, 2016, 41 TexReg 2593; amended to be effective July 2, 2017, 42 TexReg 3396; amended to be effective April 4, 2022, 47 TexReg 1464; amended to be effective October 25, 2023, 48 TexReg 6216