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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution encourages the repayment of funds used by the state of Utah
12 to keep national parks, national monuments, and national recreation areas within the
13 state open.
14 Highlighted Provisions:
15 This resolution:
16 ▸ urges Utah's federal delegation to introduce legislation that would reimburse the
17 state for money spent to keep national parks, national monuments, and national
18 recreation areas within the state open during the federal budget shutdown.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
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22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
23 WHEREAS, the inability of Congress to pass a budget led to a partial shutdown of the
24 federal government from October 1-16, 2013;
25 WHEREAS, during the federal government shutdown, without notice or consultation
26 with the state of Utah, the National Park Service (NPS) closed all 401 national parks, including
27 Utah's eight national parks, seven national monuments, and other national recreation areas;
28 WHEREAS, as a result of the shutdown, Utah experienced one of the highest declines
29 in NPS visitation levels resulting in an approximately $17,000,000 decline in NPS-related
30 visitor spending within gateway communities that depend on tourism revenue;
31 WHEREAS, to forestall further severe impacts to Utah's tourism industry, and the
32 communities and citizens that depend on this important industry, the state of Utah entered into
33 an agreement with the NPS to re-open and temporarily operate Utah's parks, monuments, and
34 recreation areas, provided Utah contribute funds to the NPS to enable NPS employees to
35 re-open and manage the parks;
36 WHEREAS, the Legislature held an emergency special session in October 2013 and
37 passed S.B. 2001, National Park Funding, appropriating $1,665,700 to the federal government
38 for the purpose of re-opening and operating national parks, national monuments, and national
39 recreation areas within the state during the federal budget shutdown;
40 WHEREAS, on October 24, 2013, the federal government repaid $666,300 to the state
41 for costs mentioned above, resulting in a net state expenditure of $999,400;
42 WHEREAS, the federal government has retained all the revenue generated within
43 Utah's national parks, national monuments, and national recreation areas during the
44 state-funded period;
45 WHEREAS, S.B. 2001 directed the Governor and the Division of Parks and Recreation
46 to urge Utah's federal delegation to introduce legislation to secure the reimbursement of funds
47 Utah paid to re-open our national parks, national monuments, and national recreation areas;
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49 WHEREAS, to date, $999,400 has still not been repaid to the state of Utah:
50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
51 Governor concurring therein, strongly urges Utah's federal delegation to exert their utmost
52 legislative efforts to secure the full repayment of the still outstanding $999,400 that Utah paid
53 to the federal government to keep national parks, national monuments, and national recreation
54 areas within the state open.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Utah Office of the Attorney General advise the
56 Legislature regarding any rights, claims, or set-off the state may have to secure the repayment
57 of the still outstanding $999,400 expended by the state to keep our national parks, national
58 monuments, and national recreation areas open.
59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this concurrent resolution be sent to the
60 Utah Office of the Attorney General and members of Utah's federal delegation.