CA AB1972

Requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue free state park passes to any veteran who is a California resident and meets one of three criteria: has a service-connected disability of 50% or greater, was held as a prisoner of war, or received a Congressional Medal of Honor, plus proof of honorable discharge.

Removes previous restrictions that limited free passes only to veterans of specific wars in which the United States had been engaged, expanding eligibility to all honorably discharged veterans meeting the criteria.

Mandates the Department of Parks and Recreation report to the Legislature by January 1, 2019 on revenue losses resulting from issuance of free veterans passes.

Expresses legislative intent to consider alternative funding sources to offset any significant revenue losses from the free pass program without reducing the Parks and Recreation Department's operating budget.