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Minutes for SB49 - Committee on Agriculture
Short Title
Authorizing the secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism to establish fees for cabins operated by the department and camping permits at state parks.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 12, 2019
Chair Highland opened the hearing on SB49 at 3:33pm.
Kyle Hamilton, Assistant Revisor, Office of The Revisor of Statutes, provide an overview of SB49. (Attachment 1) There is a Fiscal Note for SB49.
PROPONENTS
Brad Loveless, Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), appeared before the Committee in support of SB49. (Attachment 2) Given the consistent charge to KDWPT to reduce reliance on Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) and run more like a fee funded business, KDWPT is requesting to remove the public hearing process from the equation. Strategic planning requires that we analyze changing market conditions and respond accordingly to maximize revenues. By way of example, when market conditions at one property discourage participation in cabin or campsite use, the Department must respond quickly to those changing conditions. The six commission meetings are timed to coincide with regulatory deadlines, not to weather patterns and are not flexible enough to maximize profits and use of the cabins and campsites.
Mr Loveless and Jeffrey Bender, Regional Parks Supervisor, KDWPT, stood for questions from the Committee.
OPPONENTS
Representative Ken Corbet, 54th District, Kansas House of Representatives, appeared before the Committee in opposition of SB49. (Attachment 3) There are constituents of ours who operate bed and breakfasts, lodging, motels, and RV park facilities all over this state. They are required to pay out of sight property taxes, workman’s compensation, and carry insurance. KDWPT are direct competitors and pays none of the above. It’s hard enough to compete in your local market, dealing with economic issues and with the Kansas weather, but SB49 allows the state to play a game of Cabin Roulette.
Representative Corbet stood for questions from the Committee.
Written testimony in opposition of SB49 was received from Lynda M. Fort, Executive Director, Kansas Bed & Breakfast Association. (Attachment 4)
There were no neutrals of SB49.
The hearing on SB49 was closed at 4:10pm.
Chair Highland adjourned the meeting at 4:11pm.
