S. 472: Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

This bill, titled the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act, proposes amendments to the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996. The primary goal is to establish a new fund known as the Ski Area Fee Retention Account. This account is intended to manage the funds collected from ski area permit rental charges on National Forest System lands.

Key Components of the Bill

• Creation of the Ski Area Fee Retention Account: The bill mandates the establishment of a special account in the U.S. Treasury to receive ski area permit rental charges.
• Deposit and Use of Funds:
  • Funds collected will be deposited into the Ski Area Fee Retention Account.
  • These funds will be available for use without further legislative appropriation for four fiscal years.
• Fund Distribution:
  • **80% of the collected rental charges** will be allocated to the specific covered unit (the National Forest area where the permits are collected) for local activities:
    • 75% of these funds will be used for administration and related activities.
    • 25% will go towards other purposes as defined by the bill.
  • **20% of the funds** will be distributed across other units of the National Forest System for corresponding activities.
• Allowed Expenditures: The bill specifies that funds from the account can only be used for:
  • Administration and staff training related to ski area permits.
  • Visitor experience improvements, such as facility maintenance.
  • Wildfire planning and risk reduction activities.
  Search and rescue operations.
• Limitations on Expenditures: The bill explicitly states what the funds cannot be used for, which includes:
  • Wildfire suppression activities.
  • Acquisition of new lands for the National Forest System.

Implementation Timeline

The provisions of this bill will take effect 60 days post-enactment, allowing for the necessary administrative adjustments to implement the new account and its guidelines.

Summary of Goals

The overall aim of the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act is to enhance the management and financial resources associated with ski areas on national forest lands. By facilitating more direct access to collected fees for local use, the bill seeks to promote economic development in ski-reliant communities.

Relevant Companies

• None found