State park system.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to install, or permit the installation of camping cabins within the units of the state park system if installation of camping cabins is consistent with the general plan of the unit. This bill would authorize the department to acquire, install or permit the installation of, and operate or permit the operation of, camping cabins and parking facilities for recreational vehicles within the units of the state park system, if the installation and operation is consistent with the classification of the park system unit, and with the general plan of the unit, if one exists. The bill would authorize the department to enter into an agreement with a qualified nonprofit organization for those purposes. Existing law authorizes the department to receive and accept in the name of the people of the state any gift, dedication, devise, grant, or other conveyance of title to or any interest in real property, including water rights, roads, trails, and rights-of-way, to be added or used in connection with the state park system, subject to the approval of the Director of Finance, except as provided. This bill would include buildings, facilities, and other improvements to the types of interests that the department may receive to be used in connection with the state park system. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into an agreement to receive money from any entity for the maintenance or operation, on a nonprofit basis, of a designated state park unit or facility. Existing law requires the money received to be used to supplement existing resources for enhancing the maintenance and operation of the unit or facility, with priority given to preventing closure or reduced hours of service to the public. This bill would authorize the department to enter into an agreement to receive funds from any entity for the maintenance, operation, restoration, repair, development, improvement, or enhancement of a designated state park system unit or facility or for research, educational, interpretive, recreational, or visitor services provided on or for a designated state park system unit or facility. The bill would provide that the funds received shall be used to supplement, but not replace, existing resources, would remove the priority given to preventing closure or reduced hours of service to the public, and would authorize the department to provide free or reduced-cost access to and use of park facilities to an entity that enters into this agreement, if the public benefit provided by the agreement exceeds or is of comparable value, as determined by the department, to the access to or use of park facilities granted. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into an agreement to receive funds from any entity for the maintenance or operation of a state beach, any other unit of the state park system that encompasses a beach, or any area or facility of the state beach or other unit. Existing law requires funds received to be used to supplement existing resources. This bill would authorize the department to enter into an agreement to receive funds from any entity for the maintenance, operation, restoration, repair, development, improvement, or enhancement of a state beach, any other unit of the state park system that encompasses a beach, or any area or facility of the state beach or other unit, or for research, educational, interpretive, recreational, or visitor services provided on or for a state beach, any other unit of the state park system that encompasses a beach, or any area or facility of the state beach or other unit. The bill would provide that funds received shall be used to supplement, but not replace, existing resources, and would authorize the department to provide free or reduced-cost access to and use of beach facilities to an entity that enters into this agreement, if the public benefit provided by the agreement exceeds or is of comparable value, as determined by the department, to the access to or use of beach facilities granted. Existing law requires the department to develop a revenue generation program as an essential component of a long-term sustainable park funding strategy. Existing law establishes the State Park Revenue Incentive Subaccount in the State Parks and Recreation Fund with money available to the department for activities, programs, and projects, as provided, relating to the revenue generation program. Existing law requires 50% of certain program revenues deposited into the subaccount generated by a park district to be allocated to that district, as provided. Existing law requires the department to report to the Legislature annually on or before July 1 on the revenue distributed to each park district. This bill would instead require the department to report to the Legislature annually on or before December 31. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into competitively bid contracts with natural persons, corporations, partnerships, and associations for the construction, maintenance, and operation of concessions within units of the state park system. This bill would require all renewals of those concession contracts to be subject to competitive bidding requirements. Existing law requires every concessionaire to submit to the department its sales and use tax returns. This bill would also require every concessionaire to, at the request of the department, provide an annual financial statement prepared or audited by a certified public accountant. Existing law requires a concession contract entered into pursuant to specified provisions that is expected to involve a total investment or gross sales in excess of $500,000 to comply with certain other contract requirements. This bill would impose those requirements on a concession contract that is expected to involve a total investment or gross sales in excess of $1,000,000 and would revise those contract requirements, as specified.