SB119 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

State parks, bond issue, park with hotel facility or golf course, exempt from requirement that facilities be operated exclusively by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Amendment 617, Constitution of Alabama of 1901, am'd., const. amend.

Summary

A proposed constitutional amendment to allow non-state operation of hotels, golf courses, and related facilities at certain state parks and to authorize bonds for parks and historic sites.

What This Bill Does

It would create exceptions to the rule that state park lands and facilities are operated solely by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, permitting non-DNR operators at parks with lodging or golf. It authorizes up to 110 million dollars in general obligation bonds for the state parks system and public historical sites, with 104 million for state parks (via the State Parks System Improvement Corporation) and 6 million for public historical sites (via the Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Corporation). Bond proceeds would be placed in special funds to pay for bond-related costs and park/historic-site projects, and the bonds would be tax-exempt. The plan also sets oversight and governance requirements, allows refunding bonds, and specifies a six-hundred-foot shoreline buffer for lakes and related financial provisions; it states that non-DNR operation is allowed but not required and that implementing legislation will be enacted.

Who It Affects

• State residents and taxpayers, who would ultimately back the bonds with the state's taxing power.
• The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which would continue to operate most parks but would permit non-DNR operations at eligible parks.
• Private or non-state operators, who could run hotels, lodging, restaurants, or golf courses at parks that meet the lodging or golf criteria.
• Alabama State Parks System Improvement Corporation and Alabama Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Corporation, which would issue bonds and manage the corresponding funds.
• The Alabama Historical Commission (or another authorized entity) and related historical sites operators, which would oversee non-park historical sites funded by the bonds.
• Local communities and park visitors, who may experience changes in park amenities and funding for maintenance and upgrades.

Key Provisions

• authorize indebtedness up to 110,000,000 for acquisition, provision, construction, improvement, renovation, equipping, and maintenance of state parks and public historical sites/parks;
• allocate 104,000,000 to the state parks system via the Alabama State Parks System Improvement Corporation and 6,000,000 to public historical sites through the Alabama Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Corporation, with proceeds used for bond costs and described projects;
• require a six-hundred-foot buffer between lake shorelines and private property for lakes funded by the bonds, and specify repayment rules if water from such lakes is sold;
• designate that the two corporations issue bonds, with Governor approval, and that bonds be sold at public sale to obtain the lowest true interest cost, with provisions for refunding bonds and standard bond features (maturity, interest, redemption) as determined by the corporations’ resolutions;
• place bond proceeds into permanent special funds in the State Treasury for temporary investment and disbursement as needed for the described purposes, subject to legislative implementing legislation;
• provide tax exemption for bonds and interest, with certain tax exceptions, and require oversight by the Joint Legislative Committee on State Parks;
• allow non-state operation for parks with lodging or golf facilities, but clarify that such operations are permitted rather than mandated, and state that non-state operation is not required for all parks.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments