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1997 SESSION

970375364
HOUSE BILL NO. 2533
Offered January 20, 1997
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 10.1-200.1, relating to state parks.
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Patron-- Morgan
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Referred to Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 10.1-200.1 as follows:

§ 10.1-200.1. Competition with private businesses.

A. Camping ground fees charged by the Department shall be set annually on or before March 1 of each year Such fees may not be lower than the mean fee charged for the same category of service by the privately-operated camping grounds in the county in which the Department-operated camping ground is located and every county contiguous to such county. Such mean fee shall be calculated based on any fee schedules for such year voluntarily provided to the Department by the operators of such privately-operated camping grounds each year by January 15. Fees shall be set by the Department for the following categories:

1. Camp sites which have no water, electric or sewage hookups;

2. Camp sites with water and electric hookups;

3. Camp sites with water, sewer and electric hookups;

4. Primitive camping; and

5. Group camping;

B. After July 1, 1997, the Department shall not construct any new camping grounds until it has conducted a study which assesses the camping facilities needs of the area in which the camping grounds are proposed to be located. If such study concludes that adequate camping facilities are being provided in such area by private camping ground operators, the Department shall not construct the proposed camping grounds.

C. The Department shall not operate any restaurant or retail store in any state park unless (i) the Department has made a good faith effort to secure a private person or business to operate such facility and (ii) no such person or business has been secured. If the Department operates a restaurant or retail store, the Department shall make a good faith effort to secure a private person or business to operate such facility at least once every two years.