STATE PARKS CONCESSION CONTRACTS (Section 253.080): This act authorizes construction of state parks facilities if the Director of the Department of Natural Resources has entered into an agreement with a donor or grantor to provide nonstate funds as support funding for the project.

For concession contracts with expected annual gross receipts of $25,000 or more, advertisements for bids in daily or weekly newspapers shall be made by the Director.

The Director shall give preference to all firms, corporations, or individuals doing business as Missouri firms, corporations, or individuals, whenever competing bids, in their entirety, are comparable.

Currently, any person who contracts with the state for the construction or operation of facilities in state parks shall permit the Division of Parks and Recreation of the Department of Natural Resources and the Director of the Department of Revenue to audit them. This act repeals such authority.

The Department of Natural Resources shall audit the receipts and disbursements of each concession contract once every 2 years and upon the expiration of the concession contract.

No contract shall be deemed to extend to operations or management in more than one state park unless the Director has determined such extension to be in the best interest of the state based on an assessment of the needs of the state park system or the financial and operational history of the facility.

The Director, upon request, may authorize a private person, corporation, or other entity to provide services to visitors to any lands, sites, or objects under the Department's control for a term not to exceed 2 years, through a commercial use permit, without soliciting competitive sealed bids. A commercial use permit shall not be considered to be a concession contract. A commercial use permit shall be limited to commercial operations with annual gross receipts of not more than $100,000 resulting from services originating and provided solely within a state park or historic site pursuant to the commercial use permit.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed HCS/SB 196 (2016) and similar to SCS/SB 325 (2019) HCS/SB 196 (2019).

ROCK ISLAND TRAIL STATE PARK ENDOWMENT FUND (Section 253.177): This act creates the Rock Island Trail State Park Endowment Fund in the state treasury to be administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The fund shall be used by the Department for the purpose of operating, maintaining, developing, and securing any portion of the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad corridor located east of milepost 215.325 that is owned, leased, or operated by the Department.

If the United States Surface Transportation Board vacates the Notice of Interim Trail Use issued in a decision served on February 26, 2015, any moneys in the fund may be refunded to the individuals or entities that have made contributions to the fund or may be transferred to a new trail sponsor or other entity that has accepted responsibility for the management of the corridor as set forth in the act.

This section is identical to HB 1044 (2019), to provisions contained in the truly agreed HCS/SB 196 (2019), and substantially similar to SB 473 (2019).

HISTORIC COUNTY COURTHOUSES (Section 253.403):

This act authorizes the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to award grants to preserve, protect, or restore historic county courthouses. The Department shall administer and act as the fiscal agent for the grant program and shall be responsible for receiving and reviewing grant applications and awarding grants.

This section is identical to a provision contained in the truly agreed HCS/SB 196 (2019), HB 379 (2019), and to a provision contained in HCS/SB 468 (2019).

JAMIE ANDREWS