27.01(2)(m)
(m) Take such other action as may be deemed advisable for the administration, development, maintenance or protection of the state park system or any part or parts thereof.
27.01(3)
(3) Transfer of state park land to municipalities. The department may not transfer the ownership of any state park or land within any state park to any county, city, village or town unless it receives the approval of the joint committee on finance regarding the appropriate level of reimbursement to be received by the state to reflect the state's cost in acquiring and developing the state park or land within the state park.
27.01(4)
(4) Park managers. Park managers employed by the department shall have all the powers of state fire wardens as provided in
ch. 26, and such powers shall apply to state parks.
27.01(5)
(5) Roadside parks. All areas designated as roadside parks shall be a part of the state park system. Roadside parks will consist of naturally attractive parcels of land, 5 acres or more in size, immediately contiguous to a state trunk highway. Each such area shall carry a distinctive name and shall be managed and developed as a part of the state park system.
27.01(6)
(6) Names. The state parks shall be designated as follows:
27.01(6)(a)
(a) The state park in the town of St. Croix Falls, Polk County, as "Interstate Park".
27.01(6)(b)
(b) The state park in the town of Gibraltar, Door County, as "Peninsula State Park".
27.01(6)(c)
(c) The state park in the town of Nasewaupee, Door County, as "Potawatomi State Park".
27.01(6)(d)
(d) The state park in the town of Wyalusing, Grant County, as "Wyalusing State Park".
27.01(6)(e)
(e) The state park in the town of Baraboo, Sauk County, as "Devil's Lake State Park".
27.01(6)(f)
(f) The state park in the town of Morse, Ashland County, as "Copper Falls State Park".
27.01(6)(g)
(g) The state park in the town of Cassville, Grant County, as "Nelson Dewey State Park".
27.01(6)(h)
(h) The state park in the town of Rib Mountain, Marathon County, as "Rib Mountain State Park".
27.01(6)(i)
(i) The state park in the town of Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, as "Perrot State Park".
27.01(6)(j)
(j) The state park in the town of Wilson, Sheboygan County, as "Terry Andrae State Park".
27.01(6)(k)
(k) The state park in the town of Wyoming, Iowa County, as "Tower Hill State Park".
27.01(6)(L)
(L) The state park in the town of Belmont, Lafayette County, as "First Capitol State Park", except that this paragraph does not apply after February 28, 1994, if the state park has been transferred to the historical society under
1993 Wisconsin Act 16, section 9142 (1e).
27.01(6)(m)
(m) The state park in the town of Superior, Douglas County, as "Pattison State Park".
27.01(6)(n)
(n) The state park in Jefferson County, as "Aztalan State Park".
27.01(6)(o)
(o) The state park in Oconto County, as "Copper Culture Mounds State Park".
27.01(6)(p)
(p) The state park in the town of Clifton, Pierce County, as "Kinnickinnic State Park".
27.01(7)
(7) Vehicle admission; receipt; requirement; fees. 27.01(7)(a)2.
2. In this subsection "vehicle" means an automobile, motor truck, motor delivery wagon, motor bus, motorcycle or other similar motor vehicle.
27.01(7)(a)3.
3. In this subsection "vehicle admission area" means the Bong area lands acquired under
s. 23.09 (13), the Wisconsin Dells natural area, the Point Beach state forest, recreational areas in other state forests designated as such by the department, designated use zones within recreation areas established under
s. 23.091 (3), and any state park or roadside park except those specified in
par. (c) 5.
27.01(7)(b)
(b)
Vehicle admission receipt; requirement. Except as provided under
par. (c), no person may operate a vehicle in a vehicle admission area unless the vehicle has a vehicle admission receipt affixed to it or otherwise displayed as provided under
par. (e).
27.01(7)(c)
(c)
Vehicle admission receipt; exemptions. No vehicle admission receipt is required for any of the following:
27.01(7)(c)1.
1. Any vehicle in an admission area between November 1 and March 31, except as the department provides by rule.
27.01(7)(c)2.
2. Any vehicle operated by an employee, agent or officer of the state, the United States or a local unit of government while in the performance of official duties.
27.01(7)(c)3.
3. Any vehicle when furnishing services or supplies.
27.01(7)(c)4.
4. Any vehicle traveling on a public highway in a state park or state forest.
27.01(7)(c)5.
5. Any vehicle within state parks or state park areas designated by the department.
27.01(7)(c)6.
6. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a person holding a senior citizen recreation card issued under
s. 29.624.
27.01(7)(c)7.
7. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a person who is at least 18 years of age and who holds a conservation patron license issued under
s. 29.235.
27.01(7)(c)8.
8. Any vehicle towed behind or carried on another vehicle. The department may issue a special permit for a towed or carried vehicle in order to determine compliance with and facilitate enforcement of the vehicle admission receipt requirement.
27.01(7)(c)10.
10. Any motor vehicle operated for the purpose of transporting pupils to or from curricular or extracurricular activities of a public or private school, a tribal school as defined in
s. 115.001 (15m), or a home-based private educational program under
s. 118.15 (4) or for the purpose of transporting students to or from an outdoor academic class given by an accredited college or university in this state. The operator of a motor vehicle transporting pupils or students under this subdivision shall possess and exhibit for inspection a written authorization from an administrator of the school, home-based private educational program, or college or university indicating that admission to the vehicle admission area is part of an official school, home-based private educational program, or college or university function and indicating the date for which the authorization is applicable. A separate authorization is required for each date on which the motor vehicle is admitted to the vehicle admission area under this subdivision.
27.01(7)(c)11.
11. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a state resident who produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in
38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under
38 USC 1101 to
1163 as individually unemployable under
38 USC 1502 or for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 percent or greater under
38 USC 1114.
27.01(7)(c)12.
12. Any vehicle, except a motor bus, occupied by a state resident who produces evidence that shows that he or she was a member of the U.S. armed services and was held as a prisoner of war during a war period, as defined in
s. 45.01 (13), or while in service in a crisis zone, as defined in
s. 45.01 (11).
27.01(7)(d)
(d)
Issuance of vehicle admission receipts. An annual vehicle admission receipt shall be issued by the department and is valid for the calendar year for which it is issued. An annual vehicle admission receipt may not be issued by the department for a motor bus. A daily vehicle admission receipt shall be issued by the department, shall state the date for which it is issued and is effective only for the date issued.
27.01(7)(e)
(e)
Displaying the vehicle admission receipt. 27.01(7)(e)1.1. The annual vehicle admission receipt and the daily vehicle admission receipt shall be affixed by its own adhesive to the interior surface of the lower left-hand corner of the windshield of the vehicle or shall be displayed as authorized under a rule promulgated under
subd. 2.
27.01(7)(e)2.
2. The department may promulgate a rule that authorizes different methods of displaying a vehicle admission receipt, other than the method specified in
subd. 1.
27.01(7)(f)
(f)
Resident vehicle admission receipts; fees. 27.01(7)(f)1.1. Except as provided in
par. (gm), the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt is $24.50 for each vehicle that has Wisconsin registration plates, except that no fee is charged for a receipt issued under
s. 29.235 (6).
27.01(7)(f)2.
2. Except as provided in
subds. 3. and
4. and
par. (gm) 4., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt is $6.85 for any vehicle which has Wisconsin registration plates.
27.01(7)(f)3.
3. Subject to
par. (gm) 5., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt for a motor bus that has Wisconsin registration plates is $9.85.
27.01(7)(f)4.
4. Notwithstanding
subd. 3. and subject to
par. (gm) 5., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt for a motor bus which primarily transports residents from nursing homes located in this state is $3.35, for any motor bus which has Wisconsin registration plates.
27.01(7)(g)
(g)
Nonresident vehicle admission receipts; fees. 27.01(7)(g)1.1. Except as provided in
par. (gm), the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt is $34.50 for any vehicle that has a registration plate or plates from another state, except that no fee is charged for a receipt issued under
s. 29.235 (6).
27.01(7)(g)2.
2. Except as provided in
subds. 3. and
4., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt for any vehicle that has a registration plate or plates from another state is $9.85.
27.01(7)(g)3.
3. Subject to
par. (gm) 5., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt for a motor bus that has a registration plate or plates from another state is $13.85.
27.01(7)(g)4.
4. Notwithstanding
subd. 3. and subject to
par. (gm) 5., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt for a motor bus which primarily transports residents from nursing homes located in this state is $5.85, for any motor bus which has a registration plate or plates from another state.
27.01(7)(gm)1.1. Instead of the fees under
pars. (f) 1. and
(g) 1., the department shall charge an individual $12 or $17, respectively, for an annual vehicle admission receipt if the individual applying for the receipt or a member of his or her household owns a vehicle for which a current annual vehicle admission receipt has been issued for the applicable fee under
par. (f) 1. or
(g) 1.
27.01(7)(gm)3.
3. Notwithstanding
par. (f) 1., the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt for a vehicle that has Wisconsin registration plates and that is owned by a resident senior citizen, as defined in
s. 29.001 (72), is $9.50.
27.01(7)(gm)4.
4. Notwithstanding
par. (f) 2., the fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt for a vehicle that has Wisconsin registration plates and that is owned by a resident senior citizen, as defined in
s. 29.001 (72), is $2.85.
27.01(7)(gm)5.
5. A business or entity that owns motor buses shall receive a discount of 50 percent of the total amount of fees paid under
pars. (f) and
(g) for daily vehicle admission receipts during a calendar year, if the business or entity receives, in the initial transaction for the calendar year, a least 50 daily vehicle admission receipts.
27.01(7)(gr)
(gr)
Issuing fees. The department shall collect an issuing fee of 50 cents for each annual vehicle admission receipt issued and an issuing fee of 15 cents for each daily vehicle admission receipt issued.
27.01(7)(gu)
(gu)
Transaction payments. The department shall establish a system under which the department pays each agent appointed under
sub. (7m) (a) a payment of 50 cents for each time that the agent processes a transaction through the statewide automated system contracted for under
sub. (7m) (d). This payment is in addition to any issuing fee retained by the agent. The department shall make these payments by allowing the agent to retain an amount equal to the payments from the amounts that are collected by the agent and that would otherwise be remitted to the department.
27.01(7)(h)
(h)
Use of vehicle admission receipt and issuing fees. All moneys collected as fees under
pars. (f) to
(gr) and
sub. (7m) (b) that are not retained by agents under
par. (gu) or
sub. (7m) (b) shall be paid within one week into the state treasury, credited to the conservation fund and used for state parks, state recreation areas, recreation areas in state forests, and the Bong area lands.
27.01(7m)
(7m) Collection; agents; vehicle admission and issuing fees. 27.01(7m)(a)(a) The department may appoint agents who are not employees of the department to issue vehicle admission receipts and collect the vehicle admission fees under
sub. (7), except for receipts issued and fees collected under
sub. (7) (gm) 5.
27.01(7m)(b)
(b) An agent appointed under
par. (a) shall collect the applicable issuing fee specified in
sub. (7) (gr). The agent may retain the issuing fees to compensate the agent for the agent's services in issuing the receipts.
27.01(7m)(c)
(c) The department may promulgate rules regulating the activities of persons who are authorized as agents under this subsection.
27.01(7m)(d)
(d) The department may contract with persons who are not employees of the department to operate a statewide automated system for issuing vehicle admission receipts and collecting vehicle admission fees under
sub. (7), except for receipts issued and fees collected under
sub. (7) (gm) 5.
27.01(8)
(8) Admission fees; heritage hill state park; state trails. 27.01(8)(a)(a)
Admission fee. Except as provided under
pars. (b) and
(bn), the department may charge a person an admission fee to enter Heritage Hill state park or a state trail.
27.01(8)(b)
(b)
Exemptions; Heritage Hill and state trails. No admission fee to enter Heritage Hill State Park or any state trail may be charged for entry by any of the following:
27.01(8)(b)1.
1. Any person during the period from October 27 to March 31, except as the department provides by rule;
27.01(8)(b)2.
2. Any person holding a senior citizen recreation card issued under
s. 29.624; or
27.01(8)(b)3.
3. Any person who is at least 18 years of age and who holds a conservation patron license issued under
s. 29.235.
27.01(8)(bn)
(bn)
Exemptions; state trails only. No admission fee to enter any state trail may be charged for entry by any of the following:
27.01(8)(bn)1.
1. Any state resident who produces evidence that shows that he or she is a veteran, as defined in
38 USC 101, and is receiving disability compensation benefits under
38 USC 1101 to
1163 as individually unemployable under
38 USC 1502 or for disabilities that result in a disability rating that is 70 percent or greater under
38 USC 1114.
27.01(8)(bn)2.
2. Any state resident who produces evidence that shows that he or she was a member of the U.S. armed services and was held as a prisoner of war during a war period, as defined in
s. 45.01 (13), or while in service in a crisis zone, as defined in
s. 45.01 (11).
27.01(8)(c)
(c)
Amount of admission fee. The department may establish by rule the amount of the admission fee to enter Heritage Hill state park or a state trail.
27.01(8)(e)
(e)
Operation of certain parks and trails. The department may authorize nonprofit corporations to operate state trails and state parks classified as historical parks.
27.01(8)(f)
(f)
Heritage Hill; special fees. A nonprofit corporation authorized by the department to operate Heritage Hill state park may collect and retain separate fees for special programs and profits from the sale of books, souvenirs, gifts and consignment items if this revenue is used for the park.
27.01(8m)
(8m) Collection; agents; heritage hill state park; state trails. 27.01(8m)(a)(a) The department may authorize agents, including the department's concessionaires and their agents, to collect the admission fees under
sub. (8) as follows:
27.01(8m)(a)1.
1. Agents who are managers and operators of state trails, and who incur actual operating expenses, may retain not more than 70% of the admission fees that they collect.
27.01(8m)(a)2.
2. Agents to whom
subd. 1. does not apply may retain not more than 20% of the admission fees that they collect.
27.01(8m)(b)
(b) An agent who is a manager and operator of a state trail, and who incurs actual operating expenses, must use the fees retained under this subsection for the operation of the state trail.
27.01(8m)(c)
(c) The department may promulgate rules regulating the activities of agents under this subsection.
27.01(9)
(9) Waiver of fees; special fees. The department may waive the fees under
subs. (7) and
(8) or may charge admission fees in addition to or instead of those fees. Fees or fee waivers may vary, based upon any of the following:
27.01(9)(c)
(c) Certain types of visitation or times of the year.
