SB260 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Clay Scofield
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: State Parks Fund and the Parks Revolving Fund, transfer to other public accounts prohibited, const. amend.
Summary: SB260 would lock in park funding, prevent transfers to other accounts, and authorize bond-financed improvements for the state parks and public historical sites, while allowing limited non-state operation of some facilities.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits transferring funds from the State Parks Fund, the Parks Revolving Fund, or any park-designated revenues to other public accounts or for non-park purposes. It creates an exception: if guest revenues to the State Parks Revolving Fund exceed a CPI-adjusted threshold of $50 million, next year's sales/use and cigarette tax revenue intended for the State Parks System would be reduced by the amount over the threshold and redirected to the General Fund. It also authorizes up to $110 million in state debt for park system and public historical sites, to be issued by two corporations, with bond proceeds used for park and historic site improvements and related costs, and allows non-state operation of hotels, golf courses, and restaurants at applicable parks under certain conditions, while requiring most park land to be operated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and setting a 600-foot shoreline buffer for lakes.

Who It Affects
State Parks System and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) — funding would be protected and used only for park upkeep and maintenance; potential changes in facility operations, including possible non-state operation of some hotels, golf courses, and restaurants at certain parks.
General Fund and Alabama taxpayers — if guest revenues exceed the threshold, a portion of revenue designated for the State Parks System would be redirected to the General Fund; bonds add indebtedness that would be repaid with public funds.

Key Provisions
Prohibits transferring or using the State Parks Fund, the Parks Revolving Fund, or any funds designated for park use for any purpose other than supporting the state parks system; adds a CPI-adjusted threshold where excess guest revenue would trigger a reduction in park-revenue distributions to the General Fund.
Authorizes up to $110 million in state debt for the state parks system and public historical sites, to be issued by the Alabama State Parks System Improvement Corporation and the Alabama Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Corporation; bond proceeds fund park and historic site improvements, with tax-exempt bonds and special funds for disbursement, and permits the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to continue exclusive operation of park lands/facilities with exceptions for existing concessions and potential non-state operation of hotels, golf courses, and restaurants at applicable 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