NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 199 would amend Section 16-2-7 which allows the secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to promulgate new rules for the State Parks Division that would make the division "as nearly self-supporting as possible," that is, raise park fees. The bill adds a new subsection to 16-2-7 that would place the rulemaking authority to change park fees with the Legislature, instead of the secretary.

Significant Issues

The legislation would place into statute the fee structure that is in place as of April 1, 1999, and would require the Legislature to introduce a bill in the 2000 session to implement a new fee structure.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

If the fee structure that is placed into statute as of April 1, 1999 is different than the current fee structure, EMNRD would be required to develop new marketing materials and signage accordingly, and the department would lose the expenditure it has already made to implement recent fee increase. However, it does not appear that the cost would be significant and there would be no need for additional FTE.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

As the effective date, April 1, 1999, coincides with a busy period for the division. The administrative impact could be significant.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 199 relates to Senate Bill 237.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Impacting this bill, Senate Bill 237 would rescind the new park fee increase that went into effect on January 1, 1998. If Senate Bill 237 is passed and signed into law, the park fees would revert and would become statute.

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