Bill Text: CT SB01061 | 2015 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Fiscal Sustainability Of State Parks.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-23 - Signed by the Governor [SB01061 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2015-SB01061-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 1061
AN ACT CONCERNING THE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY OF STATE PARKS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, any person who has a contractual agreement with the Department of Rehabilitation Services for the operation in any state park of any food service facility, vending machine or stand for the vending of goods shall report to the Department of Rehabilitation Services the amount of revenue that such person generated during the calendar year as a result of such contract. Not later than January 1, 2016, and each year thereafter, the Department of Rehabilitation Services shall compile any reports received pursuant to this subsection and transmit such reports to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection.
(b) On or before January 30, 2016, and each year thereafter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall compile the following information: (1) The number of food service facilities, vending machines and stands for the vending of goods that are located in the state parks and the location of the respective parks that have such facilities, machines or stands, (2) the amount of revenues generated from such food service facilities, vending machines and stands for the vending of goods, as reported to the commissioner by the Department of Rehabilitation Services pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (3) the contractual agreement or provision of law that provides for the payment of any portion of such revenues to the state or that prohibits or limits the payment of such revenues to the state, (4) the amount of such revenues paid to the state in the subject calendar year, and (5) the manner in which such revenues were used by the state, if identifiable by the commissioner.
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) Not later than August 15, 2015, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop a request for information concerning the operation of concessions, provision of services and offering of recreational amenities at state parks. Such concessions shall include, but not be limited to, year-round concessions and concessions that engage the use of revenue share formulas between the vendor and the department. Such services shall include, but not be limited to, parking options for park patrons, including, but not limited to, advanced reservation parking and convenience or curbside parking. The purpose of such request for information shall be to seek informational documentation for the operation of such concessions, provision of such services and offering of recreational amenities. Not later than September 15, 2015, such request for information shall be forwarded by the commissioner to the Department of Administrative Services for posting on the State Contracting Portal. Concomitantly, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall direct a copy of such request for information to any private vendor known by the commissioner to provide such operation, provision or offering. Not later than December 1, 2015, the commissioner shall forward, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment, a copy of any informational documentation received by the commissioner in response to such request for information and a written assessment and evaluation of such informational documentation, including, but not limited to, any recommendation for the offering at state parks of concessions, services and recreational amenities that are not offered at such state parks as of the effective date of this section.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) Not later than July 31, 2015, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish the amount of rent paid by any resident or nonresident of this state for the use of state park property for any special event of limited duration, including, but not limited to, weddings and receptions, in an amount that is based on the number of persons attending such special event. The amount of any rent charged pursuant to this section shall reflect a higher fee for any event that will have a greater number of people in attendance.
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) Not later than July 31, 2015, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall amend the Adopt A Park program to additionally provide for the recognition of participants who elect to financially sponsor such park, through contribution of a charitable donation, by erecting a placard at such park that bears the name of any such sponsoring individual, individuals, organization or corporation and the nature of such financial sponsorship. The commissioner may establish multiple tiers for such financial sponsorship provided no level of charitable donation for such financial sponsorship shall be less than two thousand five hundred dollars.