Section 9-14F-2 Legislative Findings.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following: (1) That the state parks, public historical sites, and public historical parks provide essential services and outdoor recreation opportunities to Alabama residents and visitors. (2) State parks, public historical sites, and public historical parks have provided both a refuge and retreat during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted how critical the state parks are to the mental health and physical well-being of the residents of this state. (3) Because of the essential nature of state parks, public historical sites, and public historical parks, it is necessary, desirable, and in the public interest that the state parks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and public historical sites and public historical parks under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Historical Commission be improved and maintained for future use and enjoyment. (4) It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize the formation of a public corporation for the purposes of providing for the improvement, renovation, equipping, acquisition, provision, construction, and maintenance of the Alabama state parks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and public historical sites and public historical parks under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Historical Commission and to authorize the corporation to provide for payment of the costs of accomplishing the stated purposes by implementing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 proposed in Act 2021-326, authorizing the issuance by the state of up to eighty-five million dollars ($85,000,000) in aggregate principal amount of general obligation bonds, and by issuing and selling for the state, subject to the approval of the Governor, interest bearing general obligation bonds of the state. (5) The bonds shall be issued for the state by the Alabama State Parks Enhancement Authority, and the proceeds thereof shall be used exclusively for the purpose of paying the expenses incurred in the sale and issuance of bonds and for payment of the costs of the improvement, renovation, equipping, acquisition, provision, construction, and maintenance of Alabama state parks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and public historical sites and public historical parks under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Historical Commission. (6) If the bond proceeds exceed eighty-five million dollars ($85,000,000) due to receipt of original issue premium in connection with the sale of bonds or due to any other reason, any bond proceeds in excess of eighty-five million dollars ($85,000,000) plus expenses related to the issuance of the bonds shall be allocated to the Alabama Forestry Commission for the capital improvement, renovation, equipping, acquisition, provision, construction, and maintenance of state forests.