Overview
Title
To amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to provide for the establishment of a Ski Area Fee Retention Account, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
This bill wants to make a special bank account to save money collected from ski rentals in forests. The money will mostly be used to make the ski areas nicer and help visitors, but it won't be used to stop forest fires or buy more forest land.
Summary AI
S. 254 aims to modify the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 by creating a Ski Area Fee Retention Account. This account will collect rental charges from ski area permits, with most of the funds being used locally to support ski area operations and improvements in National Forests. A portion of the funds can also be used for broader purposes within the Forest Service, like visitor services or habitat restoration. However, the money cannot be spent on wildfire suppression or buying new land for National Forests.
Published
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Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act of 2023," aims to amend previous legislation concerning parks and public lands. Specifically, it proposes the creation of a "Ski Area Fee Retention Account." This account would collect fees from ski area permits on National Forest System land and dictate how these funds should be allocated. The primary goals of the bill are to ensure that the funds collected are used to improve ski area administration, visitor services, and safety, without being redirected towards wildfire suppression or land acquisition.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the main issues with the bill is its complexity, particularly in how it outlines the distribution and usage of funds from the Ski Area Fee Retention Account. The language used throughout the bill might not be easily accessible to the general public, potentially leading to misunderstandings. For instance, the criteria for reducing local fund distribution based on a unit's "reasonable needs" lack clear definition, which could result in arbitrary or inconsistent application.
Furthermore, the delineation between how certain percentages of the funds (75% versus 25%) are to be utilized is not thoroughly clarified, raising concerns about the potential for financial misallocation. Additionally, some language in the bill is ambiguous, particularly concerning the allowed and prohibited activities related to hazardous fuels reduction.
Potential Impact on the Public
For the general public, particularly those who frequent ski areas on National Forest System land, the bill could result in enhanced facilities and services, as long as the funds are utilized effectively and transparently. Improved administration of ski areas could lead to better visitor services, including interpretation activities, visitor information, and signage.
However, the ambiguities and complex language in the bill may lead to challenges in understanding and ensuring accountability for fund usage. If funds are not allocated and managed as intended, the expected improvements might not materialize, reducing public trust in the system.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Ski Area Operators: For ski area operators, this bill could provide significant benefits by potentially streamlining the application process for new ski areas or improvements. With a clear allocation of funds towards permit processing and staffing, operations could become more efficient and responsive to the needs of both operators and visitors.
National Forest System Administration: Administrators of the National Forest System may benefit from more consistent funding support, which could enhance their ability to manage ski areas effectively. Clarifying the use of funds for wildfire management could ensure better-preparedness and visitor safety.
Environmental Groups: These stakeholders may have concerns about the bill's lack of focus on environmental protection beyond wildfire readiness issues. The exclusion of hazardous fuels reduction activities might be seen as an oversight in preserving ecological balance.
Local Communities: Communities near ski areas could experience economic benefits stemming from improved ski area services and infrastructure. However, the vagueness in fund allocation could affect how much local communities benefit if the funds are not used efficiently.
In conclusion, while the bill carries the potential for significant positive impact on ski area management and visitor experience, its complex language and some ambiguous provisions demand careful consideration to ensure it delivers on its promises without unintended negative consequences.
Issues
The language in Section 2 regarding the establishment and management of the Ski Area Fee Retention Account is overly complex and may not be easily understood by the general public. This complexity could lead to misunderstandings about how funds are distributed and used.
The criteria for reducing the percentage of local distribution in Section 2(4)(C) are vague. The term 'reasonable needs' for a covered unit is not clearly defined, potentially leading to arbitrary fund allocations.
Section 2(5) has overlapping descriptions regarding the use of funds for visitor-related services. The distinction between the 75% and 25% fund usage categories is unclear, which could lead to misallocation of financial resources.
There is ambiguous wording in Section 2(5)(A)(vi) concerning the restriction on the use of funds for 'hazardous fuels reduction activities.' The phrase 'except through hazardous fuels reduction activities' may create confusion regarding which activities are allowed or prohibited.
The informal references to 'Account' and 'Secretary' in Section 2 could lack the necessary precision, possibly requiring more specific titles or references to ensure clarity and accountability.
The provision in Section 2(7)(B) stating that rental charges will supplement, not supplant, appropriated funding is unclear. It poses potential operational and accounting challenges without detailed guidelines on how this will be implemented.
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 first section of the bill provides the short title, stating that the Act can be referred to as the “Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act of 2023”.
2. Establishment of ski area fee retention account Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes a "Ski Area Fee Retention Account" for collecting and using fees from ski area permits on National Forest System land. It specifies how the funds should be distributed and used, such as for ski area administration, safety, and visitor services, but restricts the use of these funds for wildfire suppression and land acquisition.