Department of Conservation and Recreation (199)

Authority: Title 10.1, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 4.1, and 17; Title 18.2, Chapters 1 and 5; Title 19.2, Chapters 1, 5, and 7, Code of Virginia.

A.1. Out of the amount for Natural Outdoor Recreational and Open Space Resource Research, Planning, and Technical Assistance shall be paid for the operation and maintenance of Breaks Interstate Park, an amount not to exceed $181,687 the first year and $181,687 the second year from the general fund.

2. The Breaks Interstate Park Commission shall submit an annual audit of a fiscal and compliance nature of its accounts and transactions to the Auditor of Public Accounts, the Director, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget.

3. The Breaks Interstate Park Commission shall, following the modernization of the Breaks Interstate Park electrical system, enter into negotiations to transfer control of the electrical system serving the park to a local regional electric utility.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-202, Code of Virginia, amounts deposited to the State Park Conservation Resources Fund may be used for a program of in-state travel advertising. Such travel advertising shall feature Virginia State Parks and the localities or regions in which the parks are located. To the extent possible the department shall enter into cooperative advertising agreements with the Virginia Tourism Authority and local entities to maximize the effectiveness of expenditures for advertising. The department is further authorized to enter into a cooperative advertising agreement with the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.

C. Included in the amount for Preservation of Open-Space Lands is $1,752,750 the first year and $1,752,750 the second year from the general fund for the operating expenses of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (Title 10.1, Chapter 18, Code of Virginia).

D.1. Included in the amount for Preservation of Open Space Lands is $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the general fund to be deposited into the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, § 10.1-1020, Code of Virginia. Of these funds, after Virginia Outdoors Foundation's Open-Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund statutory distribution obligations have been satisfied, no less than 50 percent of the remaining appropriations are to be used for grants for fee simple acquisitions with public access or acquisitions of easements with public access. This appropriation shall be deemed sufficient to meet the provisions of § 2.2-1509.4, Code of Virginia.

2. Included in the amounts for Preservation of Open Space Lands is $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from nongeneral funds to be deposited into the Virginia Land Conservation Fund to be distributed by the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation pursuant to the provisions of § 58.1-513, Code of Virginia.

E.  Upon completion of the construction of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretative Center, the Division of State Parks may accept transfer of the facility, 153 acres of land, and $450,000 for maintenance of the completed facility for operation as a satellite facility to Natural Tunnel State Park.  It is the intent of the General Assembly that at such time as the facility, property, and cash are transferred to the Division of State Parks that positions and ongoing funding for the operation of the satellite facility shall be provided.