Authority: Title 10.1, Chapters 1, 2, 2.1, 3, 4, 4.1, and 17, Code of Virginia.
A.1. Out of the amount for Financial Assistance for Recreational Development shall be paid the Commonwealth's matching share of support for the operation and maintenance of Breaks Interstate Park, not to exceed $250,000 $200,000 the first year and $250,000 $200,000 the second year from the general fund.
2. The Breaks Interstate Park Commission shall provide quarterly financial reports detailing all revenues and expenditures to the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget. 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. 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.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-202, Code of Virginia, amounts deposited to the Conservation and Resources Fund may be used 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. The Department of Conservation and Recreation, in cooperation with the Department of Corrections, shall, to the extent possible, use inmate labor for routine work projects in state parks and natural areas.
G. Included in the amount for Preservation of Open-Space Lands is $600,000 $400,000 the first year and $600,000 $400,000 the second year from the general fund for the operating expenses of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (Title 10.1, Chapter 18, Code of Virginia).
H. The Chairman of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation shall provide a report by December 15 of each year to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees, and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, including, but not limited to, implementation of the Foundation's strategic plan; projects under consideration for funding; and expenditures from, interest earned by, and financial obligations of the Virginia Land Conservation Fund.
I. The Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation is authorized to accept on behalf of the Commonwealth a gift from the Nature Conservancy of property adjacent to the James River State Park.
J. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10.1-202, Code of Virginia, the Department is authorized to utilize more than 25 percent of revenues deposited into the Conservation Resources Fund for the operation of state parks. The amount utilized shall be approved by the Secretary of Natural Resources and shall be reported on a quarterly basis to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.
K. Out of the amounts collected pursuant to Item 257 G F of this act, on or before June 30, 2003, and June 30, 2004, the Comptroller shall transfer all funds in excess of $5,000,000 collected in each fiscal year to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund to be distributed pursuant to § 10.1-1020, Code of Virginia, for the preservation of open-space lands. There is hereby established a sum sufficient appropriation in the Department of Conservation and Recreation, not to exceed the amount of funds in excess of $5,000,000 per year collected pursuant to Item 257 G F.