Brief⁽¹⁾

H.B. 2899 would authorize the development of a comprehensive multipurpose lake resort at one or more state parks, including but not limited to, the six parks identified in the feasibility study reported to the 1998 Legislature.

The Secretaries of Wildlife and Parks, Commerce and Housing, and Transportation would develop an incentive plan outlining the state's commitment toward lake resort development. Examples of the incentives which could be provided would include infrastructure improvements such as utilities and roads, tax incentives, and economic development grants. Upon completion of the state incentive plans, the Secretaries of Wildlife and Parks and Commerce and Housing would approach local communities adjacent to the state parks to determine the incentives that can be provided by the local communities.

The Secretary of Wildlife and Parks would be authorized to negotiate with the appropriate federal agency for resort development.

The Secretaries of Wildlife and Parks and Commerce and Housing would develop requests for proposals to develop a lake resort, advertise for proposals, consider all proposals that are submitted, and select, negotiate, and contract for the construction of a lake resort. The Secretaries would be authorized to engage a private consultant to assist in contract development, and would be required to submit a status report on resort development to the Legislature and the Governor during the 1999 Legislative Session.

Any resort would be operated as a private concession and would be developed with private financing which could include revenue bonds issued by the Kansas Development Finance Authority in amounts not to exceed $30 million per resort.

The Secretary of Wildlife and Parks would be authorized to waive any relevant park fees, to obtain revenue from a resort that is developed, and to include penalty provisions for nonperformance by a resort operator.

If the Legislature is not in session, the State Finance Council could approve the site and the amount of bonds issued.

K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 41-719 would be amended to allow the consumption of alcoholic beverages in a lake resort.

The bill would be effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.

Background

At the hearing the bill was explained by the Secretary of Wildlife and Parks and was supported by several local chambers of commerce, local economic development agencies, and lake area businesses.

The Secretary of Wildlife and Parks suggested the House Committee amendment, which recognizes that the state parks mentioned in the bill are leased and not owned by the Department of Wildlife and Parks.

The Senate Committee amendment would allow other state parks to be candidates in the selection process.

As introduced, the bill authorized the development of a comprehensive multipurpose lake resort at one of the following six state parks: Cheney, Clinton, El Dorado, Hillsdale, Perry, and Milford.

The Senate Committee of the Whole deleted the word "six" on page 2, line 2. The word was supposed to have been removed as part of the Senate Committee's amendment.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext-bill.html.