The bill establishes the Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, which will oversee the FUN Parks Grants Program. It amends existing legal language to replace references to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism with the newly created Office of Outdoor Recreation. Specifically, the bill allows the Office to promulgate necessary procedures and guidelines for administering the FUN Parks Grants Program, which is aimed at enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.

Additionally, the bill outlines the powers and duties of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, including the employment of a Director who will coordinate outdoor recreation programs and policies. The Director will also administer the FUN Parks Grants Program in collaboration with the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Grant Advisory Committee. The Office is tasked with creating rules for grant applications, selection criteria, usage limitations, and accountability procedures for grant recipients, and it is required to provide an annual report on its activities to the State Parks, Recreation, and Travel Commission.

Statutes affected:
HB 1607: 14-270-202(a), 14-270-203
Act 318: 14-270-202(a), 14-270-203