Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act

STATUS:
S2534  MAZIARZ   No Same as
ON FILE: 01/06/10 Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law
TITLE....Enacts the "Niagara parks reinvestment act"

SUMMARY:

MAZIARZ
Amd S3.09, Pks & Rec L; add S92-ff, St Fin L
Enacts the "Niagara parks reinvestment act"; requires fifty percent of parking revenue generated at state parks in the county of Niagara to be deposited in the Niagara parks reinvestment fund; establishes the Niagara parks reinvestment fund.

BILL TEXT:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          2534
 
                               2009-2010 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                    February 23, 2009
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sen. MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
          Parks and Recreation
 
        AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law  and
          the  state  finance  law,  in  relation to enacting the "Niagara parks
          reinvestment act"
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
     2  the "Niagara parks reinvestment act".
     3    § 2. Section 3.09 of the parks, recreation and  historic  preservation
     4  law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-h to read as follows:
     5    2-h.  Be  empowered to require fifty percent of vehicle use fee gener-
     6  ated from any state park wholly or partially located in  the  county  of
     7  Niagara  to  be  deposited in the Niagara parks reinvestment fund estab-
     8  lished in section ninety-two-ff of the state  finance  law.  The  office
     9  shall  prepare  an  annual  report  on  the  amount  of vehicle use fees
    10  collected at any state park wholly or partially located in the county of
    11  Niagara.  Such report shall contain a detailed summary of projects being
    12  funded and the amount each project is  being  funded  for.  Such  report
    13  shall  be  disseminated  to  the governor, the chairperson of the senate
    14  tourism, recreation and sports development committee, the chairperson of
    15  the assembly tourism, arts and sports development committee and  to  any
    16  member  of  the  state  senate or assembly representing a portion of the
    17  county of Niagara.
    18    § 3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 92-ff to
    19  read as follows:
    20    § 92-ff. Niagara parks reinvestment fund. 1. There  is  hereby  estab-
    21  lished  in  the joint custody of the comptroller and the commissioner of
    22  taxation and finance a special fund to be known as  the  "Niagara  parks
    23  reinvestment fund".
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD06468-01-9

        S. 2534                             2
 
     1    2.  Such  fund  shall  consist  of fifty percent of the balance of the
     2  vehicle use fee generated  from  any  state  park  wholly  or  partially
     3  located  in  the county of Niagara as authorized pursuant to subdivision
     4  two-h of section 3.09 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation
     5  law.
     6    3.  The  moneys  appropriated  or  transferred  to  this fund shall be
     7  disbursed to finance capital  improvements  in  state  parks  wholly  or
     8  partially  located in the county of Niagara and/or to create a transpor-
     9  tation system linking the state parks  with  other  tourist  attractions
    10  wholly or partially located in the county of Niagara.
    11    4.  All payments from this fund shall be made on the audit and warrant
    12  of the comptroller on vouchers  approved  by  the  commissioner  of  the
    13  Niagara  Frontier  state  park,  recreation  and  historic  preservation
    14  commission.
    15    § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of April next  succeeding
    16  the date on which it shall have become a law.

SPONSORS MEMO:
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
INTRODUCER'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
submitted in accordance with Senate Rule VI. Sec 1

 
BILL NUMBER: S2534
 
SPONSOR: MAZIARZ             

 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law and the state finance law, in relation to enacting the "Niagara parks reinvestment act"
 
 
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would create the "Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act" which would constitute 50% of the vehicle use fees collected at any state park located wholly or partially in Niagara County, such revenue would be reinvested into capital improvements in state parks located in Niagara County.
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 titles this as the "Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act." 

Section 2 requires fifty percent of the vehicle use fees generated at any state park located wholly or partially in Niagara County be deposited in the Niagara parks reinvestment fund. Further, this act requires an annual report on the amount of revenue generated, as well as a summary of projects being funded, and the amount such project being funded at. Such report shall be sent to the governor, the chair of the Senate and Assembly Tourism Committees, and any Senator or Assembly member who Niagara County. 

Section 3 creates the Niagara parks reinvestment fund which consists of fifty percent of the balance of total revenue from vehicle use fees generated at any State Park located wholly or partially in Niagara County. This section further states that money appropriated shall be used only to finance capital improvements in state parks located in Niagara County and/or to create a transportation system linking the state parks with other tourist attractions located in Niagara County. Section 4 is the effective date.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Niagara County is home to some of New York's most amazing state parks, including Niagara Reservation State Park which holds the distinction as the First state park in the nation, established in 1885. In addition to being the honeymoon capital, Niagara Reservation State Park also holds the distinction as the most visited state park in New York State. Its magnificent waterfalls, the rapids of the Niagara River, and other natural riches are known worldwide and attract more visitors than Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks combined.  We welcome the millions of tourists to Niagara County each year because of our fascination and attachment to this wonderful place, but those millions also take a toll on the infrastructure of these great state parks.
 
Yet, rather than the fees generated by these parks being even partially dedicated to maintaining these park's facilities, they are put into the state's general fund, and these State Parks must battle for a share of funds for capital improvements and maintenance.
 
Dedicating 50% of the parking fees collected at these parks will produce a steady and somewhat predictable funding stream to allow capital improvements and maintenance of these state parks in Niagara County.
 
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unknown.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
April 1 next succeeding the date on which it shall become a law.