Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a pilot program for a Federal and State multi-entity pass accepted by one or more Federal land management agencies and one or more State land management agencies, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 8603 wants to try something new by making a special ticket that lets people go to parks and nature places run by both the U.S. and state governments without needing separate tickets for each. They will test this idea for a few years to see if people like it and if it works well.
Summary AI
H.R. 8603, also known as the "ROAM Act," proposes the creation of a pilot program by the Secretary of the Interior to issue a pass that allows access to parks and outdoor recreation areas managed by both Federal and State land agencies. This pass would be available in states within the National Park Service Southeastern Region and would last for up to 12 months. The bill requires partnership agreements with state agencies to set rules about pricing, revenue sharing, and other details and ensures there is no net revenue loss for either federal or state agencies. The pilot program would last for four years, and a report to Congress would determine if the program should be made permanent.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill, introduced in the 118th Congress, is titled the "Recreation and Outdoor Access Membership Act," or the "ROAM Act." It proposes the establishment of a pilot program by the Secretary of the Interior. This program aims to create a multi-entity pass allowing access to both federal and state-managed parks and recreation areas within the National Park Service Southeastern Region. Partnerships with state land management agencies are a critical component, ensuring collaboration and an equitable sharing of revenue and costs. Additionally, the bill mandates a study to evaluate the pilot program's outcomes and suggests whether to implement the program permanently across the nation.
Summary of Significant Issues
Upon reviewing the details, several issues emerge in the bill's provisions:
Pricing Ambiguity: The bill does not clarify how the price of the multi-entity pass is determined, which could lead to inconsistent or unfair pricing.
Conflict Resolution: The absence of defined mechanisms for resolving disagreements between federal and state agencies about revenue distribution and cost-sharing could delay implementation.
Timeline Uncertainty: The expiration date for the authority to issue passes is dependent on the program's start date, which is not clearly communicated, posing potential logistical issues.
Evaluation Criteria: There is a lack of clarity on the criteria for evaluating the pilot program's success, which could complicate objective analysis and decision-making.
Complex Coordination: Managing jurisdictions between federal and state agencies is inherently complex, and the lack of specific details could lead to coordination challenges.
Delayed Reporting: The five-year timeline for reporting could delay necessary changes or expansion of the program if the results are positive.
Potential Impact on the Public
The introduction of a multi-entity pass could make it easier for the public to access a variety of parks with a single purchase. This convenience could increase park visitation, encouraging outdoor activities which benefit public health and well-being. However, if pricing is not handled carefully, it could lead to public dissatisfaction or reduced accessibility for certain groups, especially marginalized communities who may already face barriers to enjoying public lands.
Potential Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impacts
Outdoor Enthusiasts: This group would likely benefit the most from the convenience and possibly reduced costs of a single pass covering multiple recreation sites.
State and Federal Park Agencies: If well-coordinated, these agencies might enjoy increased traffic, leading to greater engagement with visitors and potential for increased educational outreach.
Negative Impacts
State and Federal Budget Planners: Without clear guidelines on revenue distribution and pricing, budget planners may face challenges in predicting financial outcomes, potentially leading to budget shortfalls or disputes.
Local Communities: Increased visitation to parks may put pressure on local resources, infrastructure, and environments unless carefully managed, impacting residents living near these areas.
Overall, while the intent behind the ROAM Act is to streamline access to America’s natural treasures, the bill requires careful consideration of its operational details and potential impacts on all stakeholders involved. The success of the pilot program will largely depend on transparent communication, fair pricing, and effective collaboration between state and federal entities.
Issues
The lack of clarity on how the 'price of the multi-entity pass' should be determined in Section 2 could result in inconsistent pricing, potentially leading to public disputes or unfair pricing practices, which is significant for financial and ethical reasons.
Section 2's absence of specific mechanisms for resolving disagreements between Federal and State agencies regarding revenue distribution or cost-sharing is important to address to prevent conflicts and ensure smooth implementation of the program, impacting both financial and political aspects.
The expiration of authority to issue a multi-entity pass in Section 2 may have implications if the start date of the program is not clearly defined or publicly communicated, leading to potential logistical and legal challenges for the public and agencies involved.
The lack of criteria or metrics for evaluating the 'outcome of the pilot program' in Section 3 makes objective assessment difficult, which is crucial for ethical and political reasons as it affects decision-making on whether to implement the program permanently.
The definition of 'multi-entity pass' in Section 4 includes parks under both Federal and State jurisdictions, which might raise complex management and coordination challenges, with potential political and legal implications if jurisdictions are not clearly defined.
The timeline for submitting a report in Section 3 ('not later than 5 years after the effective date') may delay important decisions, impacting the timely evaluation and adjustment of the pilot program, which is significant for financial and operational planning.
The absence of specified penalties or measures in Section 3 if the Secretary fails to submit the report on time may lead to accountability issues, which is significant for legal and political accountability.
The 'No Net Revenue Loss' clause in Section 2 lacks specific guidance on addressing potential revenue shortfalls, creating uncertainty in financial planning for participating agencies and potentially impacting public opinion and agency operations.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides the short title for the Act, stating that it may be referred to as the "Recreation and Outdoor Access Membership Act" or simply the "ROAM Act".
2. Pilot Program for State and National passes Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a pilot program to create a pass allowing entry into both federal and state parks in the National Park Service Southeastern Region. It requires the Secretary to form partnerships with state agencies, ensuring no loss in revenue, and specifies that the program's authority will expire 4 years after the first agreement, with no passes being issued after 3 years.
3. Study Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress within 5 years after the first partnership agreement is made. This report must include the results of the pilot program and a suggestion on whether it should be made permanent across the nation.
4. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, the terms "multi-entity pass" and "Secretary" are defined. A "multi-entity pass" is a special pass allowing entry to parks and recreation areas managed by both federal and state agencies. The "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of the Interior.