The Utah Senate rejected a bill that would have provided veterans with discounted access to state parks, citing concerns about setting a precedent for special treatment. Despite acknowledging the positive impact of outdoor activities on veterans' mental health and the high rate of veteran suicides in Utah, Republican senators ultimately voted against the proposal.
Some studies conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs have indicated that engaging in outdoor activities can positively impact veterans' mental health . The Utah Senate commenced its session on Wednesday by honoring individuals who have contributed to ensuring that military veterans receive the recognition and respect they deserve for their service.
Senate President Stuart Adams remarked on the profound experience of escorting World War II veterans, many in their 90s and nearly 100 years old, back to Normandy. He emphasized that the event was remarkable not due to their actions but because of the sacrifices made by these veterans.However, just ten minutes later, Adams and his fellow Republican senators voted against a bill that would have granted veterans discounted admission to Utah State Parks. The decision was made to gauge veterans' demand for a more permanent program. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, all 1,600 pilot passes offered under this program were claimed by Utah veterans.Official data from 2021 reveals that veteran suicides in Utah are significantly higher than both the national veteran suicide rate and the national general population suicide rate. Research suggests that participating in outdoor group activities, such as hiking and skiing, can aid veterans in transitioning from military to civilian life and enhance their mental well-being. This proposed legislation would have made permanent the program that discounted park admissions by at least 25% for veterans. Both the Division of State Parks and the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs supported the bill.Senator Scott Sandall, a Republican from Tremonton, argued that while the state currently provides free access to state parks for disabled veterans, extending the program to all veterans would be impractical. He expressed concerns about setting a precedent and questioned the fairness of granting special treatment to veterans while other public service professionals, such as police officers and firefighters, do not receive similar benefits. Sandall stated that his father served in the military and he believes his father would not have desired any preferential treatment. Senator Kathleen Riebe, a Democrat from Cottonwood Heights, switched her vote to 'No,' allowing her to potentially revive the bill later if any Republican senators change their minds. Senator Riebe expressed optimism about bringing the bill back later this week
VETERANS UTAH SENATE PARK FEES MENTAL HEALTH SUICIDE RATES
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