BILL NUMBER: S2104
SPONSOR: ORTT
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law and
the state finance law, in relation to enacting the "Niagara parks rein-
vestment act"
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would create the "Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act" which
would constitute 50% of the vehicle use fees collected at any state park
located wholly or partially in Niagara County, such revenue would be
reinvested into capital improvements in state parks located in Niagara
County.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 titles this as the "Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act".
Section 2 requires fifty percent of the vehicle use fees generated at
any state park located wholly or partially in Niagara County be deposit-
ed in the Niagara parks reinvestment fund. Further, this act requires an
annual report on the amount of revenue generated, as well as a summary
of projects being funded, and the amount such project being funded at.
Such report shall be sent to the governor, the chair of the Senate and
Assembly Tourism Committees, and any Senator or Assembly member who
Niagara County?'
Section 3 creates the Niagara parks reinvestment fund which consists of
fifty percent of the balance of total revenue from vehicle use fees
generated at any State Park located wholly or partially in Niagara Coun-
ty. This section further states that money appropriated shall be used
only to finance capital improvements in state parks located in Niagara
County and/or to create a transportation system linking the state parks
with other tourist attractions located in Niagara County?'
Section 4 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Niagara County is home to some of New York's most amazing state parks,
including Niagara Reservation State Park which holds the distinction as
the First state park in the nation, established in 1885. In addition to
being the honeymoon capital, Niagara Reservation State Park also holds
the distinction as the most visited state park in New York State" Its
magnificent waterfalls, the rapids of the Niagara River, and other
natural riches are known worldwide and attract more visitors than
Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks combined. We welcome the
millions of tourists to Niagara County each year because of our fasci-
nation and attachment to this wonderful place, but those millions also
take a toll on the infrastructure of these great state parks.
Yet rather than the fees generated by these parks being even partially
dedicated to maintaining these park's facilities, they are put into the
state's general fund, and these State Parks must battle for a share of
funds for capital improvements and maintenance. Dedicating 50% of the
parking fees collected at these parks wilt produce a steady and somewhat
predictable funding stream to allow capital improvements and maintenance
of these state parks in Niagara County.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.2534 of 2009/2010; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation
S.179/A.8220 of 2011/2012; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks
and Recreation
S.1107/A.6482 of 2013/2014 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks
and Recreation
S. 3027/A.5741 of 2015/2016 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks
and Recreation
S. 371 of 2017/2018 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation
S. 259 of 2019/2020; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation
S. 3495 of 2021/2022; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation
S.786/A.2329 of 2023/2024; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks
and Recreation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This law shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it shall become a law.

Statutes affected:
S2104: 3.09 parks recreation and historic preservation law