SCS/SB 325 - This act authorizes construction of state parks facilities if the Director of the Department of Natural Resources has entered into a binding agreement with a donor or grantor to provide 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 financial and operation history of the facility.
The Director, upon request, may authorize a private person, corporation, or other entity to provide services 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.
This act is similar to provisions in the truly agreed HCS/SB 196 (2019) and SCS/HCS/HB 1206 (2019).
JAMIE ANDREWS