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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE

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REPAYMENT OF FUNDS USED TO KEEP NATIONAL

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PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND RECREATION AREAS OPEN

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2016 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Ken Ivory

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Senate Sponsor: Scott K. Jenkins

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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
21     

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;
48     and
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.