AI-assisted research summary: The commissioner must offer certain state park discounts, including a 50% minimum camping discount for qualifying disabled veterans, and public officials generally cannot be given lifetime or extended free golf at state parks.
The commissioner shall offer discounted rates for activities at the state parks to senior citizens, disabled persons, state employees, members of the Tennessee national guard, and any other group that the commissioner deems appropriate for such treatment. The specific activities where these discounts would apply as well as the timing and amount will be left to the commissioner's discretion. The commissioner shall offer discounted rates for activities at state parks to veterans who are Tennessee residents. The commissioner shall offer a year-round discount in the amount of no less than fifty percent (50%) for camping fees at state parks to veterans who have any service-connected disability that is determined by the veterans administration to constitute a one hundred percent (100%) permanent total disability. Certification from the veterans' administration indicating the veteran's percentage of service-connected disability must be presented in order to receive the discounted fee. Except for the discount required by subdivision (b)(1)(B), the commissioner may determine the specific activities for which other discounts would apply, as well as the timing and amount of each discount; provided, that the other discounts must only be offered to resident veterans during the off season. For purposes of this subsection (b), “veteran” means a former member of the United States armed forces or a former member of a reserve or Tennessee national guard unit who was called into active military service of the United States, as defined in § 58-1-102, and who served honorably, as defined in § 49-7-102. For purposes of this subsection (b), “off season” means a period or periods of time, as determined by the commissioner, during which state park activities and facilities traditionally operate at less than full capacity. No public official shall be given the right to play golf free for life or for any other extended period of time on courses in state parks, unless such action is authorized by the agriculture and natural resources subcommittee of the house of representatives, and approved by such standing committee of the house of representatives, as well as approved by the energy, agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate. Such prohibition includes green fees, golf carts and free supplies or equipment. Nothing in this subsection (c) shall prohibit the management of a golf course in state parks from occasionally extending free play to such public officials under appropriate circumstances.