WEST virginia legislature
2022 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
House Bill 4408
By Delegates Dean, Paynter, Phillips, J. Jeffries, Cooper, Miller and Ferrell
[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; February 21, 2022]
A BILL to amend and reenact §20-5-15 and §20-5-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the authority of the Division of Natural Resource to enter into certain contracts.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 5. PARKS AND RECREATION.
§20-5-15. Authority to enter into certain operational contracts; terms and conditions; necessity for legislative notice and public hearing before certain facilities are placed under contract.
(a) The director may enter
into a contract with a person, firm, corporation, foundation or public agency
for the operation of a commissary, restaurant, recreational facility or other
establishment within the state parks and public recreational system, for a
duration not to exceed ten 30 years, but the contract may provide
for an option to renew at the director’s discretion for an additional term or
terms not to exceed ten 20 years at the time of renewal: Provided,
That an operational contract for the operation of Prickett’s Fort by the
Prickett’s Fort Memorial Foundation, Inc., funded by an appropriation for the
specific purpose of such operational contract is exempt from the provisions
of §5A-3-1 et seq. of this code. Prior to initiating of a contract
for the operation of a state park lodge, cabin, campground, gift shop, golf
facility, including pro shop operations, or ski facility, the director shall
submit written notice of the specific location subject to the contract to the
Legislature by letter to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of
Delegates. Any facilities constructed under the authority granted under this
section must be in accordance with the purpose, powers, and duties of the
Section of Parks and Recreation in accordance with the provisions of §20-5-3
et seq. of this code.
(b) Prior to initiating a
contract for a previously state-operated state park lodge, cabin, campground,
gift shop, golf facility, including pro shop operations, or ski facility, the
director shall conduct a public hearing to be held at a reasonable time and
place within the county in which the facility is located. Notice of the time,
place and purpose of the public hearing shall be provided as a Class II legal
advertisement in accordance with the provisions of §59-3-2 of this code
which notice shall be given at least for the first publication 20 days in
advance of said the hearing.
(c) Any contract entered into by the director shall provide an
obligation upon the part of the operator that he or she maintain a level of
performance satisfactory to the director and shall further provide that any
contract may be terminated by the director in the event if he or
she determines that the performance is unsatisfactory and has given the
operator reasonable notice of the termination.
§20-5-16. Authority to enter into contracts with third parties to construct recreational facilities and cabins; public comment.
(a) Notwithstanding any
other provision of this code to the contrary, in addition to all other powers
and authority vested in the director, he or she is hereby authorized and
empowered to may:
(1) Enter into contracts
with third parties for the financing, construction, and operation of
recreational, lodging, and ancillary facilities at Chief Logan State Park,
Beech Fork State Park, Tomlinson Run State Park, Stonewall Jackson Lake State
Park, Lost River State Park and Canaan Valley Resort State Park all
state parks and state forests under the jurisdiction of the Division of Natural
Resources. The contracts may allow and recognize both direct and subsidiary
investment arrangements. The term of the contracts may not exceed a period of twenty-five
50 years, at which time the full title to the recreational facilities
shall vest in the state, except as otherwise provided in this section;
(2) Enter into contracts with third parties for the construction, but not the operation, of cabins at any state park or forest. Upon completion of the construction of the cabins, full title to the cabins shall immediately vest in the state and the cabins shall be operated by the parks and recreation section;
(3) Authorize the construction of at least five cabins by any single third party in state parks and state forests which do not offer the facilities on the effective date of this subsection; and
(4) Propose emergency and
legislative rules, in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et
seq. of this code, that set the conditions upon which the director may
enter into a contract with a single third party proposing to construct cabins.
(b) All contracts shall be presented to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance for review and comment prior to execution.
(c) A contract may provide for renewal for the purpose of permitting continued operation of the facilities at the option of the director for a term or terms not to exceed 10 years.
(d) The director shall
provide prior electronic notice of any contract, extension, and renewal entered
into pursuant to this section to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
Except as otherwise authorized by this section, no extension or renewal
beyond the original twenty-five year term may be executed by the director
absent the approval of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
(e) Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park. —
(1) With respect to the financing, construction, and operation of lodging at Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, in addition to the lodging in existence as of July 1, 2008, contracts entered into pursuant to this section may grant, convey, or provide for commercially reasonable lodging usage and related rights and privileges all on terms and conditions as the director may deem appropriate, desirable or necessary to attract private investment for the construction of additional lodging units.
(2) No contracts may be entered into prior to the preparation of lodging unit development plans and standard lodging unit contract documents in a form and at a level of detail acceptable to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the director, and subsequent to the presentation of the lodging unit development plans and standard lodging unit contract documents to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance for review and comment.
(3) At a minimum, the lodging unit development plans and standard lodging unit contracts shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) That no more than 100 additional lodging units may be constructed, in addition to the lodging in existence as of July 1, 2008;
(B) That lodging unit contracts, with respect to any additional lodging units that may be financed, constructed or operated pursuant to the provision of this section, shall generally conform to the contracts entered into by federal agencies or the National Park Service with private parties regarding privately financed property that is constructed, developed or operated on public lands administered by federal agencies or the National Park Service, subject to modification and adaptation by the director as the director deems appropriate, suitable and relevant to any lodging units to be constructed at Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park.
(C) That a party granted rights
and privileges under lodging unit contracts awarded under the provisions of
this subsection shall have the right to renew his or her her or
its lodging unit contract for successive terms not to extend beyond the
termination date of the state’s lease with the United States Army Corps of
Engineers; or, in the event that the state’s lease with the United States Army
Corps of Engineers is extended beyond the termination date of the lease as of
July 1, 2007, not to exceed five 10-year extensions or renewals beyond the
termination date of the lease between the state and the United States Army
Corps of Engineers in effect as of July 1, 2007: Provided, That the
party extended the renewal rights is in compliance with all material rights,
duties and obligations arising under his or her, her or its
contract and all relevant and applicable provisions of federal, state and local
laws, rules, regulations, contracts or agreements at the time of renewal: Provided,
however, That if and in the event the director makes an affirmative
determination that further renewals beyond the time periods set forth in this
subsection are in the best interest of the state and Stonewall Jackson Lake
State Park, giving due consideration to financial, operational and other
considerations deemed relevant and material by the director, that the director
may authorize further renewals;
(D) That all rights and privileges arising under a lodging unit contract shall be transferred to the state or the state’s designee upon the expiration or termination of the contract, upon the terms and conditions as each contract may provide or as may otherwise be agreed upon between the parties;
(E) That the state is not,
and cannot be, obligated for any costs, expenses, fees, or other charges
associated with the development of the additional lodging units under this
subsection or the operation and maintenance of the additional lodging units
over time, including, but not limited to, costs associated with infrastructure
improvements associated with development or operation of the additional lodging
units. In his or her discretion, the director may engage professionals to
assist the state in connection with its review and oversight of development of
the additional lodging units;
(F) That at any time following the initial term and first renewal period of any lodging unit contract entered into with a private party with respect to an additional lodging unit that is constructed under this section, the state shall have the right and option, in its sole discretion, to purchase a lodging unit or lodging units in accordance with the provisions of this subsection and any and all contracts that may be entered into from time to time under this section;
(G) That at its sole
option and discretion, the state may elect to purchase a lodging unit from
a private party. In that event, If the private party shall be
is paid the fair value of the private party’s residual rights and
privileges under the lodging unit contract, the residual rights and privileges
to be valued generally in accordance with the valuation standards set forth in
the National Park Service’s standard contract provisions, or other relevant
federal agency standards applicable to similar or like contract rights and
provisions as may be in existence at the time of transfer, all as the same may
be deemed considered relevant and appropriate by the director,
and all in the exercise of the director’s reasonable discretion. Nothing in
this section is intended or shall may be construed to impose an
obligation on the state to purchase, buy, buy out or otherwise acquire or pay
for any lodging unit under this section, or to limit the right and ability of a
private party to donate or contribute his or her, her or its
interest in and to any lodging unit constructed under this section to the state
or any charitable foundation that may be established and operating from time to
time to support the continued operation and development of Stonewall Jackson
Lake State Park;
(H) That the state shall
have has no obligation whatsoever to purchase, buy, buy out or
otherwise acquire or pay for any lodging unit that is developed or constructed
under this section; and
(I) The director shall
have the right to may review and approve the form and content of all
contracts that may be entered into pursuant to this subsection in connection
with the development, operation, and maintenance of additional lodging units at
Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park.
(f) Any facilities constructed under the authority granted under this section must be in accordance with the purpose, powers, and duties of the Section of Parks and Recreation in accordance with the provisions of §20-5-3 et seq. of this code.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to extend the existing authority of the director to enter into third party contracts for the financing, construction, and operation of recreational, lodging, and ancillary facilities to all West Virginia state parks, state forests, and state rail trails.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.