Authority: Title 10.1, Chapters 1, 2, 2.1, 3, 4, 4.1, and 17, Code of Virginia.

A.1. Out of the amounts for Recreation Assistance and Information shall be paid the Commonwealth's matching share of support for the operation and maintenance of Breaks Interstate Park, not to exceed $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund.

2. Out of the amounts for Recreation Assistance and Information shall be paid $325,000 the first year and $600,000 the second year from the general fund to continue capital improvements at the Breaks Interstate Park. The second year appropriation is contingent upon matching funds provided by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

3. The Breaks Interstate Parks Commission shall provide quarterly financial reports detailing all revenues and expenditures to the Director of Conservation and Recreation. The Commission shall also submit an annual audit of a fiscal and compliance nature of its accounts and transactions to the Auditor of Public Accounts.

B. The June 30, 1998, and June 30, 1999, unexpended balances in the subprogram Recreation Assistance and Information, for "Aid in Planning, Acquisition and Development of Regional and Local Parks and Statewide Trails" are hereby reappropriated.

C. Net revenues generated from forest product sales on public park, recreational, and conservation lands owned or managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall be deposited in the Conservation Resources Fund (§ 10.1-202, Code of Virginia). From the total revenues collected by the Department, the Department shall reimburse the Department of Forestry or other sources of forestry expertise for their expenses related to the management, harvesting, and reforestation of the Departmental lands.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-202, Code of Virginia, the amounts for Recreation Facilities Maintenance and Operation include $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from special fund revenues from park operations for a program of in-state travel advertising. Such travel advertising shall feature Virginia State Parks and the localities or regions in which the parks are located. To the extent possible the Department shall enter into cooperative advertising agreements with the Virginia Tourism Authority and local entities, to maximize the effectiveness of expenditures for advertising. The Department is further authorized to enter into a cooperative advertising agreement with the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.

E. All revenue from private concession operations shall be deposited to the Conservation Resources Fund. All revenues from state-operated concession operations shall be deposited into the State-Operated Concession Fund.

F. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-202, Code of Virginia, amounts deposited to the Conservation Resources Fund may be used to extend the operating season of various state parks and to provide for an in-house reservation system for the state park system.

G. The Department of Conservation and Recreation, in cooperation with the Department of Corrections, shall increase the use of inmate labor for routine work projects in state parks and natural areas with a goal of utilizing 200 inmates on a full-time basis.

H. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall report by November 4, 1998, its progress in implementing the provisions of Chapter 811 of the 1996 Acts of Assembly. The report shall include the comments and views of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. The report shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the Senate Committees on Finance and Courts of Justice and the House Committees on Appropriations and Conservation and Natural Resources.

I. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-202, Code of Virginia, the Department will pay from the Conservation Resources Fund $220,000 the first year and $220,000 the second year for debt service payments resulting from the purchase of Kiptopeke State Park authorized by Chapter 878 of the 1992 Acts of Assembly.

J. Included in the amount for Recreation Facilities Maintenance and Operation is $110,117 the first year and $110,117 the second year from the general fund for lease payments through the Master Equipment Lease Program for vehicles and maintenance equipment.

K. The Virginia Outdoors Foundation shall provide an annual report to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees, including, but not limited to, the Foundation's administrative and program costs, the number of conservation easements issued and acres covered by the program in fiscal year 1998, the total number of easements and acres under easement protection, plans the Foundation has to increase easement donations through the Open Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund, and projects the Foundation has cooperated with other state agencies to accomplish.

L. The amounts for Leisure and Recreation Services include $17,500 the first year and $17,500 the second year from the general fund to assist Fairfax County to match federal and private dollars in order to develop biking and walking trails in Mason Neck.

M. The Department of Conservation and Recreation shall examine the feasibility of establishing a state park on the Rappahannock River from its confluence with the Hazel River to the City of Fredericksburg. The study shall examine options for financing land acquisition and development, and shall solicit the views of local citizens, governments, and organizations. The Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Senate Committees on Finance and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, by September 1, 1999.

N. Out of the amounts for Recreation Assistance and Information, $25,000 the first year from the general fund shall be provided to the City of Petersburg to continue development of a multipurpose recreational facility.

O. Included in the amount for Recreation Facilities Maintenance and Operation is $20,000 the second year from the general fund to conduct a study on the feasibility of incorporating the Grand Caverns Regional Park and the Natural Chimneys Regional Park into the state park system. The report shall be submitted to the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget by October 1, 1999.

P. Included in the amount for Preservation of Open-Space Lands is $400,000 the second year from the general fund to be deposited in the Open Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund (§ 10.1-1801.1, Code of Virginia).

Q. Out of the amounts for Recreation Assistance and Information, $75,000 the second year from the general fund shall be paid to the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission.

R. Included in the amount for Recreation Facilities Maintenance and Operation is $50,000 the second year from the general fund for preventive maintenance, repairs and renovation work at Sailor's Creek Battlefield Park.

S.1. The Virginia Outdoors Foundation, with the assistance of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Historic Resources, shall study the use and management of conservation and other easements issued or obtained by state natural resources agencies. The study shall identify state easement programs, including the number of easements, number of acres under easement protection, type of easements issued, guidelines for granting easements, staffing, funding, and other factors in easement management. The study shall also determine the frequency, records kept, and management of easement violations in monitoring existing easements, including the obligation of state and local governments to the Internal Revenue Service and the easement donors. In addition, the Foundation will describe its responsibilities for easements taken by private organizations, and survey easement management practices of other states, Virginia localities, and private organizations.

2. The report shall be submitted to the Secretary of Natural Resources and to the Chairmen of the Senate Committees on Finance and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and House Committees on Appropriations and Conservation and Natural Resources by November 3, 1999.