What's happening
The Niagara parks reinvestment act requires half of vehicle use fees from Niagara County state parks to fund local park improvements and related transportation.
Why it matters
Directs local reinvestment. By requiring that half of all vehicle use fees from Niagara County state parks stay in the area, the act ensures that money generated locally is used to address local needs—potentially leading to better-maintained parks and improved visitor experiences.
Creates transparency and accountability. The mandate for an annual, detailed public report on fee collection and expenditures helps ensure the funds are used as intended, allowing local officials and residents to track improvements and push for further action if needed.
Supports tourism and economic development. The ability to use these funds not just for park improvements but also for transportation systems linking parks to other attractions could enhance regional tourism, encourage longer visits, and boost local businesses.
Establishes a dedicated funding structure. By creating a special Niagara parks reinvestment fund under joint state oversight, the bill shields these resources from being redirected elsewhere in the state budget, increasing the likelihood that the money will be used for its intended local purposes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Keep Niagara Park Fees Local
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Committee discharged and committed to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fund Niagara Park Upgrades
In Assembly Committee · Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development · Sponsor Angelo J. Morinello
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
259
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law and the state finance law, in relation to enacting the "Niagara parks reinvestment act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Niagara parks reinvestment act".
§ 2. Section 3.09 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-i to read as follows:
2-i. Be empowered to require fifty percent of vehicle use fee generated from any state park wholly or partially located in the county of Niagara to be deposited in the Niagara parks reinvestment fund established in section ninety-two-ii of the state finance law. The office shall prepare an annual report on the amount of vehicle use fees collected at any state park wholly or partially located in the county of Niagara. Such report shall contain a detailed summary of projects being funded and the amount each project is being funded for. Such report shall be disseminated to the governor, the chairperson of the senate tourism, recreation and sports development committee, the chairperson of the assembly tourism, arts and sports development committee and to any member of the state senate or assembly representing a portion of the county of Niagara.
§ 3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 92-ii to read as follows:
§ 92-ii. Niagara parks reinvestment fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance a special fund to be known as the "Niagara parks reinvestment fund".
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02195-01-9
S. 259 2
2. Such fund shall consist of fifty percent of the balance of the vehicle use fee generated from any state park wholly or partially located in the county of Niagara as authorized pursuant to subdivision two-i of section 3.09 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation law.
3. The moneys appropriated or transferred to this fund shall be disbursed to finance capital improvements in state parks wholly or partially located in the county of Niagara and/or to create a transportation system linking the state parks with other tourist attractions wholly or partially located in the county of Niagara.
4. All payments from this fund shall be made on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers approved by the commissioner of the Niagara Frontier state park, recreation and historic preservation commission.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law and the state finance law, in relation to enacting the "Niagara parks rein- vestment act"
Purpose
This legislation would create the "Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act" which would constitute 50% of the vehicle use fees collected at any state park located wholly or partially in Niagara County, such revenue would be reinvested into capital improvements in state parks located in Niagara County.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 titles this as the "Niagara Parks Reinvestment Act". Section 2 requires fifty percent of the vehicle use fees generated at any state park located wholly or partially in Niagara County be deposited in the Niagara parks reinvestment fund. Further, this act requires an annual report on the amount of revenue generated, as well as a summary of projects being funded, and the amount such project being funded at. Such report shall be sent to the governor, the chair of the Senate and Assem- bly Tourism Committees, and any Senator or Assembly member who Niagara County" Section 3 creates the Niagara parks reinvestment fund which consists of fifty percent of the balance of total revenue from vehicle use fees generated at any State Park located wholly or partially in Niagara County. This section further states that money appropriated shall be used only to finance capital improvements in state parks located in Niagara County and/or to create a transportation system link- ing the state parks with other tourist attractions located in Niagara County." Section 4 is the effective date.
Justification
Niagara County is home to some of New York's most amazing state parks, including Niagara Reservation State Park which holds the distinction as the First state park in the nation, established in 1885. In addition to being the honeymoon capital, Niagara Reservation State Park also holds the distinction as the most visited state park in New York State" Its magnificent waterfalls, the rapids of the Niagara River, and other natural riches are known worldwide and attract more visitors than Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks combined. We welcome the millions of tourists to Niagara County each year because of our fasci- nation and attachment to this wonderful place, but those millions also take a toll on the infrastructure of these great state parks.
Yet, rather than the fees generated by these parks being even partially dedicated to maintaining these park's facilities, they are put into the state's general fund, and these State Parks must battle for a share of funds for capital improvements and maintenance.
Dedicating 50% of the parking fees collected at these parks will produce a steady and somewhat predictable funding stream to allow capital improvements and maintenance of these state parks in Niagara County.
Legislative history
S.2534 of 2009/2010; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation S.179/A.8220 of 2011/2012; Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation S.1107/A.6482 of 2013/2014 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation S. 3027/A.5741 of 2015/2016 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation S. 371 of 2017/2018 Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Fiscal implications
Unknown.
Effective date
This law shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.