UT
Utah House Bill HB0490

Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0490 Compare Versions

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1-Enrolled Copy H.B. 490
1+02-26 15:28 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490
2+Clinton D. Okerlund proposes the following substitute bill:
23 1
34 State Parks Modifications
45 2025 GENERAL SESSION
56 STATE OF UTAH
67 Chief Sponsor: Clinton D. Okerlund
78 Senate Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens
89 2
910
1011 3
1112 LONG TITLE
1213 4
1314 General Description:
1415 5
1516 This bill addresses the Division of State Parks.
1617 6
1718 Highlighted Provisions:
1819 7
1920 This bill:
2021 8
2122 ▸ defines terms;
2223 9
2324 ▸ removes a requirement for the Division of State Parks (division) to comply with the Utah
2425 10
2526 Procurement Code in selecting concessionaires in state parks;
2627 11
2728 ▸ requires the division to operate, to the extent possible, from money and revenue collected
2829 12
2930 as fees and charges;
3031 13
3132 ▸ requires the director to implement a comprehensive plan for the long-term use of state
3233 14
3334 parks developed by the division;
3435 15
3536 ▸ grants rulemaking authority to the division to administer the state parks system;
3637 16
3738 ▸ renames the State Parks Restricted Account;
3839 17
3940 ▸ repeals sections related to boating accounts and river enhancement grants; and
4041 18
4142 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
4243 19
4344 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
4445 20
4546 None
4647 21
4748 Other Special Clauses:
4849 22
4950 None
5051 23
5152 Utah Code Sections Affected:
5253 24
5354 AMENDS:
5455 25
5556 76-6-206.2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 111
5657 26
5758 79-4-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 507
5859 27
59-79-4-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 280 H.B. 490 Enrolled Copy
60+79-4-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 280
6061 28
6162 79-4-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 280
63+2nd Sub. H.B. 490 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490 02-26 15:28
6264 29
6365 79-4-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 68
6466 30
6567 79-4-206, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
6668 31
6769 79-4-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 33
6870 32
6971 79-4-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 256, 391
7072 33
7173 79-4-603, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
7274 34
7375 79-4-604, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
7476 35
7577 79-4-901, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
7678 36
7779 79-4-1001, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 391
7880 37
7981 ENACTS:
8082 38
8183 79-4-207, Utah Code Annotated 1953
8284 39
8385 REPEALS:
8486 40
8587 79-4-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 280
8688 41
8789 79-4-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 280
8890 42
8991 79-4-802, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
9092 43
9193
9294 44
9395 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
9496 45
9597 Section 1. Section 76-6-206.2 is amended to read:
9698 46
9799 76-6-206.2 . Criminal trespass on state park lands.
98100 47
99101 (1)(a) As used in this section:
100102 48
101103 (i) "Authorization" means specific written permission by, or contractual agreement
102104 49
103105 with, the Division of State Parks.
104106 50
105107 (ii) "Criminal trespass" means the elements of the crime of criminal trespass, as set
106108 51
107109 forth in Section 76-6-206.
108110 52
109111 (iii) "Division" means the Division of State Parks created in Section 79-4-201.
110112 53
111113 (iv) "State park lands" means all lands administered by the division.
112114 54
113115 (b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-6-201 apply to this section.
114116 55
115117 (2) An actor commits criminal trespass on state park lands and is liable for the civil
116118 56
117119 damages prescribed in Subsection (5) if, under circumstances not amounting to a greater
118120 57
119121 offense, and without authorization, the actor:
120122 58
121123 (a) constructs improvements or structures on state park lands;
122124 59
123125 (b) uses or occupies state park lands for more than 30 days after the cancellation or
124126 60
125127 expiration of authorization;
126128 61
127129 (c) knowingly or intentionally uses state park lands for commercial gain;
128-- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 490
129130 62
130131 (d) intentionally or knowingly grazes livestock on state park lands, except as provided in
132+- 2 - 02-26 15:28 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490
131133 63
132134 Section 72-3-112; or
133135 64
134136 (e) remains, after being ordered to leave by a person with actual authority to act for the
135137 65
136138 division, or by a law enforcement officer.
137139 66
138140 (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor.
139141 67
140142 (4) A person does not commit criminal trespass if that person enters onto state park lands:
141143 68
142144 (a) without first paying the required fee; and
143145 69
144146 (b) for the sole purpose of pursuing recreational activity.
145147 70
146148 (5)(a) In addition to an order for restitution under Section 77-38b-205, an actor who
147149 71
148150 commits any act described in Subsection (2) may also be liable for civil damages in
149151 72
150152 the amount of three times the value of:
151153 73
152154 (i) damages resulting from a violation of Subsection (2);
153155 74
154156 (ii) the water, mineral, vegetation, improvement, or structure on state park lands that
155157 75
156158 is removed, destroyed, used, or consumed without authorization;
157159 76
158160 (iii) the historical, prehistorical, archaeological, or paleontological resource on state
159161 77
160162 park lands that is removed, destroyed, used, or consumed without authorization; or
161163 78
162164 (iv) the consideration which would have been charged by the division for
163165 79
164166 unauthorized use of the land and resources during the period of trespass.
165167 80
166168 (b) Civil damages awarded under Subsection (5)(a):
167169 81
168170 (i) may be collected in a separate action by the division; and
169171 82
170172 (ii) shall be deposited into the [State Park Fees] State Parks Restricted Account as
171173 83
172174 established in Section 79-4-402.
173175 84
174176 Section 2. Section 79-4-102 is amended to read:
175177 85
176178 79-4-102 . Definitions.
177179 86
178180 As used in this chapter:
179181 87
180182 (1) "Division" means the Division of State Parks.
181183 88
182184 (2) "Facility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 51-9-901.
183185 89
184186 (3) "Outdoor recreation infrastructure" means the same as that term is defined in Section
185187 90
186188 51-9-901.
187189 91
188190 Section 3. Section 79-4-201 is amended to read:
189191 92
190192 79-4-201 . Division of State Parks -- Creation -- Powers and authority.
191193 93
192194 (1) There is created within the department the Division of State Parks.
193195 94
194196 (2) The division is under[:]
195197 95
196198 [(a)] the administration and general supervision of the executive director[; and] .
197-- 3 - H.B. 490 Enrolled Copy
198199 96
199200 [(b) the policy direction of the board.]
201+- 3 - 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490 02-26 15:28
200202 97
201203 (3) The division is the state parks authority for the state.
202204 98
203205 Section 4. Section 79-4-202 is amended to read:
204206 99
205207 79-4-202 . Director -- Qualifications -- Duties.
206208 100
207209 (1) The director is the executive and administrative head of the division.
208210 101
209211 (2) The director shall demonstrate:
210212 102
211213 (a) executive ability; and
212214 103
213215 (b) actual experience and training in the conduct of park systems involving both physical
214216 104
215217 development and program.
216218 105
217219 (3) The director shall:
218220 106
219221 (a) enforce the policies and rules of the [board; and] division;
220222 107
221223 (b) perform the duties necessary to:
222224 108
223225 (i) properly care for and maintain any property under the jurisdiction of the division;
224226 109
225227 and
226228 110
227229 (ii) carry out this chapter[.] ; and
228230 111
229231 (c) implement the comprehensive plan for long-term public use of state park resources
230232 112
231233 developed by the division under Subsection 79-4-203(12).
232234 113
233235 (4) The director shall acquire, plan, protect, develop, operate, use, and maintain park area
234236 114
235237 and facilities in accordance with the policies and rules of the [board] division.
236238 115
237239 Section 5. Section 79-4-203 is amended to read:
238240 116
239241 79-4-203 . Powers and duties of division.
240242 117
241243 (1) As used in this section, "real property" includes land under water, upland, and all other
242244 118
243245 property commonly or legally defined as real property.
244246 119
245247 (2) The Division of Wildlife Resources shall retain the power and jurisdiction conferred
246248 120
247249 upon the Division of Wildlife Resources by law within state parks and on property
248250 121
249251 controlled by the Division of State Parks with reference to fish and game.
250252 122
251253 (3) The division shall permit multiple use of state parks and property controlled by the
252254 123
253255 division for purposes such as grazing, fishing, hunting, camping, mining, and the
254256 124
255257 development and utilization of water and other natural resources.
256258 125
257259 (4)(a) The division may acquire real and personal property in the name of the state by all
258260 126
259261 legal and proper means, including purchase, gift, devise, eminent domain, lease,
260262 127
261263 exchange, or otherwise, subject to the approval of the executive director and the
262264 128
263265 governor.
264266 129
265267 (b) In acquiring any real or personal property, the credit of the state may not be pledged
266-- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 490
267268 130
268269 without the consent of the Legislature.
270+- 4 - 02-26 15:28 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490
269271 131
270272 (5)(a) Before acquiring any real property, the division shall notify the county legislative
271273 132
272274 body of the county where the property is situated of the division's intention to acquire
273275 133
274276 the property.
275277 134
276278 (b) If the county legislative body requests a hearing within 10 days of receipt of the
277279 135
278280 notice, the division shall hold a public hearing in the county concerning the matter.
279281 136
280282 (6) Acceptance of gifts or devises of land or other property is at the discretion of the
281283 137
282284 division, subject to the approval of the executive director and the governor.
283285 138
284286 (7) The division shall acquire property by eminent domain in [the manner authorized by]
285287 139
286288 accordance with Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 5, Eminent Domain.
287289 140
288290 (8)(a) The division may make charges for special services and use of [facilities] a facility
289291 141
290292 or outdoor recreation infrastructure, the [income] revenue from which is available for
291293 142
292294 park purposes.
293295 143
294296 (b) The division may conduct and operate[ those] services necessary for the comfort and
295297 144
296298 convenience of the public.
297299 145
298300 (9)[(a)] The division may set reasonable charges to lease or rent concessions [of all
299301 146
300302 lawful kinds and nature in state parks and property to persons, partnerships, and
301303 147
302304 corporations for a valuable consideration upon the recommendation of the board] in a
303305 148
304306 state park or on property owned by the division.
305307 149
306308 [(b) The division shall comply with Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, in
307309 150
308310 selecting concessionaires.]
309311 151
310312 (10) The division shall proceed without delay to negotiate with the federal government
311313 152
312314 concerning the Weber Basin and other recreation and reclamation projects.
313315 153
314316 (11) The division shall, to the extent possible, implement the requirements of this chapter
315317 154
316318 from revenue the division collects from:
317319 155
318320 (a) charges for special services, use of a park facility, and use of an outdoor recreation
319321 156
320322 infrastructure; and
321323 157
322324 (b) service or regulatory fees.
323325 158
324326 (12)(a) The division shall develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term public use of
325327 159
326328 state parks and state park resources related to the:
327329 160
328330 (i) acquisition of land and resources;
329331 161
330332 (ii) protection of state parks and the public;
331333 162
332334 (iii) operation of state parks;
333335 163
334336 (iv) maintenance of state parks and division resources; and
335-- 5 - H.B. 490 Enrolled Copy
336337 164
337338 (v) development of state parks and division resources.
339+- 5 - 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490 02-26 15:28
338340 165
339341 (b) In developing a comprehensive plan under Subsection (12)(a), the division shall
340342 166
341343 consider:
342344 167
343345 (i) recreational utility;
344346 168
345347 (ii) the public benefit in the historical, archaeological, and scientific resources in state
346348 169
347349 parks; and
348350 170
349351 (iii) the health and wholesome enjoyment of the public.
350352 171
351353 Section 6. Section 79-4-206 is amended to read:
352354 172
353355 79-4-206 . Support of a nonprofit corporation or foundation.
354356 173
355357 The division may provide administrative support to a nonprofit corporation or
356358 174
357359 foundation that assists[ the board and] the division in attaining the objectives outlined in the
358360 175
359361 strategic or operational plan.
360362 176
361363 Section 7. Section 79-4-207 is enacted to read:
362364 177
363365 79-4-207 . Division rulemaking authority.
364366 178
365367 (1) The division may make rules to:
366368 179
367369 (a) govern the use of the state park system, including to:
368370 180
369371 (i) determine when to close or partially close a state park; and
370372 181
371373 (ii) establish use or access restrictions within a state park; and
372374 182
373375 (b) protect a natural or cultural resource in a state park from misuse or damage.
374376 183
375377 (2) The division shall make rules to:
376378 184
377379 (a) govern the collection of charges under Subsection 79-4-203(8); and
378380 185
379381 (b) implement a program for veteran access to state parks as described in Section
380382 186
381383 79-4-1002.
382384 187
383385 (3) The division may not make rules that prevent the transfer of livestock along a livestock
384386 188
385387 highway established under Section 72-3-112.
386388 189
387389 (4) The division shall makes rules under this section in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter
388390 190
389391 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
390392 191
391393 Section 8. Section 79-4-402 is amended to read:
392394 192
393395 79-4-402 . State Parks Restricted Account.
394396 193
395397 (1) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the [State Park
396398 194
397399 Fees] State Parks Restricted Account.
398400 195
399401 (2)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the account shall consist of revenue from:
400402 196
401403 (i) all charges allowed under Section 79-4-203;
402404 197
403405 (ii) proceeds from the sale or disposal of buffalo under Subsection 79-4-1001(2)(b);
404-- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 490
405406 198
406407 and
408+- 6 - 02-26 15:28 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490
407409 199
408410 (iii) civil damages collected under Section 76-6-206.2.
409411 200
410412 (b) The account shall not include revenue the division receives under Section 79-4-403
411413 201
412414 and Subsection 79-4-1001(2)(a).
413415 202
414416 (3) The division shall use funds in this account for the purposes described in Section
415417 203
416418 79-4-203.
417419 204
418420 Section 9. Section 79-4-403 is amended to read:
419421 205
420422 79-4-403 . Golf revenue -- Wasatch Mountain, Palisade, and Green River State
421423 206
422424 Parks.
423425 207
424426 (1) The following [user fees] charges are assessed in the following parks for playing nine
425427 208
426428 holes of golf:
427429 209
428430 (a) [15] 30% of the [green fees] revenue at Wasatch Mountain State Park;
429431 210
430432 (b) [15] 30% of the [green fees] revenue at Palisade State Park; and
431433 211
432434 (c) [15] 30% of the [green fees] revenue at Green River State Park.
433435 212
434436 (2) [The fee] A charge in Subsection (1) is:
435437 213
436438 (a) in addition to [the fee] a charge set by the [board] division; and
437439 214
438440 (b) to be used at the park where the money is collected for:
439441 215
440442 (i) the upgrade or development of facilities; or
441443 216
442444 (ii) the purchase of golf course operation and maintenance equipment and operating
443445 217
444446 supplies or materials.
445447 218
446448 Section 10. Section 79-4-603 is amended to read:
447449 219
448450 79-4-603 . Iron Mission Historical Monument -- Acceptance of gifts from Iron
449451 220
450452 Mission Park Corporation.
451453 221
452454 The [board] division shall accept on behalf of the state the Gronway Parry collection of
453455 222
454456 horse-drawn vehicles, horses, harnesses, figures, costumes, and horse-drawn machinery of the
455457 223
456458 pioneer era, the Melling log cabin, the Osborne blacksmith collection, and a metal exhibit
457459 224
458460 building, all being gifts to the state from the Iron Mission Park Nonprofit Corporation.
459461 225
460462 Section 11. Section 79-4-604 is amended to read:
461463 226
462464 79-4-604 . Iron Mission Historical Monument -- Acquisition of property.
463465 227
464466 The division may:
465467 228
466468 (1) acquire, construct, maintain, and operate any land areas, objects, or structures as
467469 229
468470 necessary to preserve, protect, display, and enhance:
469471 230
470472 (a) the gifts described in Section 79-4-603; and
471473 231
472474 (b) other historical objects or collections donated, loaned, or otherwise acquired that
473-- 7 - H.B. 490 Enrolled Copy
474475 232
475476 appropriately contribute to the pioneer heritage of Utah; and
477+- 7 - 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490 02-26 15:28
476478 233
477479 (2) acquire, directly or through others, by purchase, contract, lease, permit, donations, or
478480 234
479481 otherwise, all real or personal property, rights-of-way, approach roads, parking and other
480482 235
481483 areas, structures, facilities and services that the division[ and board] may consider
482484 236
483485 necessary or desirable to accomplish Subsection (1).
484486 237
485487 Section 12. Section 79-4-901 is amended to read:
486488 238
487489 79-4-901 . Pioneer heritage of Utah -- Acquisitions and operations by division.
488490 239
489491 (1) The division may acquire, construct, maintain, and operate any land areas, objects, or
490492 240
491493 structures as necessary to preserve, protect, display, and enhance any gifts and other
492494 241
493495 historical objects or collections donated, loaned, or otherwise acquired that appropriately
494496 242
495497 contribute to the pioneer heritage of Utah.
496498 243
497499 (2) To accomplish Subsection (1), the division may directly or through others, by purchase,
498500 244
499501 contract, lease, permit, donation, or otherwise, secure all real or personal property,
500502 245
501503 rights-of-way, approach roads, parking and other areas, structures, facilities, and
502504 246
503505 services that the division [and board ]may consider necessary or desirable to contribute
504506 247
505507 to the pioneer heritage of Utah.
506508 248
507509 Section 13. Section 79-4-1001 is amended to read:
508510 249
509511 79-4-1001 . Purchase, trade, sale, or disposal of buffalo -- Proceeds.
510512 250
511513 (1) In accordance with a plan[,] approved by the [board,] division to manage buffalo herds
512514 251
513515 on Antelope Island, the division may purchase, trade, sell, or dispose of buffalo obtained
514516 252
515517 from Antelope Island through:
516518 253
517519 (a) competitive bidding; or
518520 254
519521 (b) a means as established by rule.
520522 255
521523 (2) Proceeds received from the sale or disposal of buffalo under this section shall be
522524 256
523525 deposited as follows:
524526 257
525527 (a) the first $75,000 shall accrue to the division for the management of Antelope Island
526528 258
527529 buffalo herds as dedicated credits; and
528530 259
529-(b) proceeds in excess of $75,000 shall be deposited [in] into the [State Park Fees] State
531+(b) proceeds in excess of $75,000 shall be deposited into the [State Park Fees] State Parks
530532 260
531-Parks Restricted Account created [under] in Section 79-4-402.
533+Restricted Account created [under] in Section 79-4-402.
532534 261
533535 Section 14. Repealer.
534536 262
535537 This bill repeals:
536538 263
537539 Section 79-4-101, Title.
538540 264
539541 Section 79-4-401, Funds to be appropriated -- Boating account expenses.
540542 265
541543 Section 79-4-802, Riverway enhancement grants -- Matching funds requirements --
542-- 8 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 490
543544 266
544545 Rules.
546+- 8 - 02-26 15:28 2nd Sub. (Gray) H.B. 490
545547 267
546548 Section 15. Effective Date.
547549 268
548550 This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
549551 - 9 -