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25LSO-0772
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0772
Numbered
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0192
High Plains Research Station and Arboretum-historic site-2.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Pappas and Representative(s) Nicholas
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to state lands; declaring the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum as a state historic site; requiring the department of state parks and cultural resources to manage the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site; requiring the development of a strategic master plan for preservation and operation of the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site; authorizing fees as specified; authorizing expenditure of appropriated funds; providing an appropriation; requiring a report; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 36
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1801 and 36
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1802 are created to read:
ARTICLE 18
HIGH PLAINS RESEARCH STATION AND ARBORETUM
STATE HISTORIC SITE
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1801.
High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site; strategic master plan; leasehold and concession agreements.
(a)
The lands in Laramie County managed by the department of state parks and cultural resources and known as the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum are declared to be a state historic site. The department shall by rule specify the legal description of the state historic site.
(b)
The state historic site shall be known as the "High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site".
(c)
The department of state parks and cultural resources shall prepare a strategic master plan for the preservation and operation of the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site. Under the strategic master plan required by this subsection, the department may develop memoranda of understanding with any city, town, county, department, political subdivision, state agency or other entity, as necessary, to administer, operate, maintain, preserve and study the state historic site.
(d)
The department of state parks and cultural resources is authorized to enter into leasehold and concession agreements in accordance with the strategic master plan required by subsection (c) of this section. Funds received by the department pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited into the state parks account and subject to the requirements of W.S. 36
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121(h).
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1802.
Administration; fees.
(a)
The department of state parks and cultural resources shall preserve, administer, operate and maintain the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site in accordance with the strategic master plan required by W.S. 36
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1801(c).
(b)
The department may, under a lease agreement or contract management arrangement, provide for special events at the historic site in accordance with W.S. 36
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121(o) or management of specified areas of the historic site by a public or private entity.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department of state parks and cultural resources may impose fees in excess of permit fees charged for use of state parks and sites under W.S. 36
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121 as necessary to fund expenses incurred for preservation, development, operations, personnel and maintenance of the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site. Unexpended, unobligated fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the state parks account at the end of the fiscal year and expended in accordance with W.S. 36
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121(h). Revenues and expenditures under this subsection for each of the immediately preceding two (2) fiscal years shall be reported within the department's biennial budget request submitted under W.S. 9
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1013.
Section 2
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The department of state parks and cultural resources shall initiate the strategic master plan required by this act within one (1) year following the effective date of this act and provide a report on the strategic master plan to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee not later than October 1, 2026.
Section 3
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(a)
Three million three hundred thirty
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eight thousand seven hundred fifty
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six dollars ($3,338,756.00) or as much thereof as is available from amounts appropriated to the department of state parks and cultural resources for the high plains research station and arboretum by 2024 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 118, Section 2, Section 24, Footnote 7 may be expended for the purposes of the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site, as created in Section 1 of this act.
(b)
There is appropriated three million three hundred thirty
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eight thousand seven hundred fifty
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six dollars ($3,338,756.00) from the general fund to the department of state parks and cultural resources for the purposes of the High Plains Research Station and Arboretum state historic site, as created in section 1 of this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2026. This appropriation shall be reduced by one dollar ($1.00) for every one dollar ($1.00) that is expended from the funds specified in subsection (a) of this section. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2026.
Section 4.
This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
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SF0192