The bill establishes the Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, aimed at enhancing outdoor recreational programs and policies in Arkansas. It amends existing laws to transfer the administration of the FUN Parks Grants Program from the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to the newly created Office of Outdoor Recreation. The amendments include the deletion of references to the Department and the insertion of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, which will now oversee the program's procedures, rules, and guidelines.

Additionally, the bill outlines the powers and duties of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, including the appointment of a Director who will coordinate the development of outdoor recreation initiatives and administer the FUN Parks Grants Program in collaboration with the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Grant Advisory Committee. The Director is also responsible for creating rules for grant applications, selection criteria, usage limitations, and accountability for grant recipients, as well as providing an annual report on the office's activities to the State Parks, Recreation, and Travel Commission.

Statutes affected:
HB 1607: 14-270-202(a), 14-270-203