SB542 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

J.T. WaggonerSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Trip PittmanGeorge M. “Marc” Keahey

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Gulf State Park, development, submission of proposals, criteria, review by department, acceptance or rejection, proposal exempt from certain statutes

Summary

SB542 would let Alabama manage Gulf State Park through project agreements with private or public partners, repealing a prior park-management statute.

What This Bill Does

Authorizes the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to plan, oversee, and implement projects at Gulf State Park and to enter into project agreements with qualified developers, operators, or other partners. Gives the commissioner the power to issue requests for proposals, publicly open submissions, and, if desired, reject all proposals and negotiate a project agreement on terms no less favorable than the best proposal. Repeals Chapter 14D of Title 9 and creates rules and definitions for project agreements, including how projects are funded, how revenues are handled, and that ownership of project property may vest in the state after expiration. Requires that contracts funded with public funds follow competitive bidding, while contracts not funded with public funds may be exempt from bidding laws.

Who It Affects

• Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: gains authority to solicit proposals, select partners, and manage Gulf State Park projects.
• Private individuals or companies: may submit proposals and, if selected, develop, operate, or invest in park projects and earn project revenues.
• Public entities (counties, municipalities, public corporations, state agencies): may lend money, donate property, grant tax abatements, or provide services to support the project.
• State and Gulf State Park system: ownership of project property may revert to the state after expiration; revenues and funds arrangements are defined by the project agreements.
• Governor and the Joint Legislative Committee on State Parks: oversee and approve the process and project agreements.

Key Provisions

• Section 3: The commissioner can issue requests for proposals for park projects and publicly open proposals; if desired, the commissioner may reject all proposals and negotiate a project agreement with terms no less favorable than the best proposal.
• Section 4: Each project agreement must include improvements, management, revenue handling, and provide that title to project property vests in the state after expiration; ground leases may last up to 99 years.
• Section 5: Contracts funded with public funds must follow competitive bidding; contracts not funded with public funds may be exempt from bidding laws.
• Section 6: Public entities may contribute money or services, donate property, grant tax abatements, and incur indebtedness to support the project.
• Section 7: The act provides comprehensive authority and sets exemptions from certain existing laws for project agreements.
• Section 8: Repeals Chapter 14D of Title 9 of the Code of Alabama 1975.
• Section 10: Establishes the act's effective date (first day of the third month following passage and Governor's approval).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Gulf State Park