SB87 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

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 constitutional amendment to allow non-state operators to run hotels, golf courses, or both at certain state parks and to authorize up to $110 million in bonds for park and historic site improvements.

What This Bill Does

It would amend Amendment 617 to permit operation and maintenance of state park land at parks with lodging or a golf course to be handled by non-DCNR entities, not exclusively by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It would authorize up to $110 million in general obligation bonds to fund state park system improvements and public historical sites, with specific allocations and bond terms, and create dedicated funds for bond proceeds. It includes requirements like a 600-foot buffer between lake shorelines and private property and sets up oversight and implementation processes through related state corporations and committees.

Who It Affects

• Visitors and communities at parks that offer overnight lodging or have a golf course, because those facilities could be operated by private or non-DCNR entities instead of only by DCNR.
• Alabama taxpayers and state government, because the measure would create up to $110 million in state debt for park and historic site improvements and establish new funding and oversight arrangements.

Key Provisions

• Exemption from exclusive DCNR operation: Parks that advertise or provide overnight lodging (hotels, cottages, cabins) or have a golf course (or both) may be operated by non-DCNR entities; other parks remain under DCNR operation.
• Bond authorization and use: Up to $110 million in aggregate principal for state parks, public historical sites, and public historical parks; $104 million issued by the State Parks System Improvement Corporation for park-related costs, $6 million by the Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Corporation for historical sites not under DCNR; bonds are general obligations of the state with full faith and credit pledged.
• Financial administration: Proceeds are placed in dedicated funds (The Alabama State Parks System Improvement Fund and The Alabama Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Fund), with investments until needed and subsequent disbursement for described uses; bonds are to be sold publicly and repaid with debt service, exempt from most state taxes.
• Governance and oversight: Projects guided by the Alabama State Parks System Improvement Corporation and the Joint Legislative Committee on State Parks; public historical sites are guided by the Alabama Public Historical Sites and Parks Improvement Corporation with advice from the Joint Legislative Committee on State Parks; implementation requires further enabling legislation by the Legislature.
• Additional provisions: A minimum 600-foot shoreline buffer is required for lakes created or acquired with bond funds; if water from such a lake is sold, the sale proceeds are used to reimburse debt service; the amendment does not mandate private operation but permits it.

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