Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 95 (2017GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Eliason, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/20/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• authorizes the Division of Parks and Recreation to enter into an agreement with the United States Bureau of Land Management to use the Little Sahara Recreation Area as a state park; and
• states that the Little Sahara Recreation Area shall be included within the state park system upon the division entering into the agreement described above.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

LITTLE SAHARA STATE PARK DESIGNATION
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
Senate Sponsor: 
Ralph Okerlund
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill deals with the creation of the Little Sahara State Park.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ authorizes the Division of Parks and Recreation to enter into an agreement with the
United States Bureau of Land Management to use the Little Sahara Recreation Area
as a state park; and
▸ states that the Little Sahara Recreation Area shall be included within the state park
system upon the division entering into the agreement described above.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
79-4-605
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
79-4-605
 is enacted to read:
 79-4-605.
Little Sahara included within state park system.
(1) As used in this section, "Little Sahara Recreation Area" means the area of land in
the Sevier Desert, approximately 55,905 acres, fully described by the map and legal description
on file with the division.
(2) The division may:
(a) enter into an agreement for the use of the Little Sahara Recreation Area as a state
park with the United States Bureau of Land Management; and
(b) receive donations of land or facilities at the Little Sahara Recreation Area for
inclusion within the state park.
(3) In entering the agreement described in Subsection (2)(a), the division may:
(a) pursue a land transfer agreement with the United States Bureau of Land
Management;
(b) if a land transfer agreement is not possible, seek to purchase or lease the land from
the United States Bureau of Land Management through the Recreation and Public Purposes
Act, 43 U.S.C. Sec. 869 et seq.; and
(c) finalize an agreement to receive land by transfer, purchase, or lease, as described in
Subsections (3)(a) and (b), if:
(i) the resulting state park, including the cost of law enforcement, would be financially
self-sustaining;
(ii) all current grazing allotments would be maintained in their existing form; and
(iii) the Legislative Management Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture,
and Environment Interim Committee approve the plan to expand the state park system by
including the Little Sahara Recreation Area.
(4) If the division successfully enters into the agreement described in Subsection (2)(a),
the division shall negotiate in good faith with the School and Institutional Trust Lands
Administration to attempt to:
(a) purchase parcels of school and institutional trust land located within the boundaries
of the Little Sahara Recreation Area; or
(b) exchange parcels of school and institutional trust land located within the boundaries
of the Little Sahara Recreation Area for other parcels of state land or other lands administered
by the United States government.
(5) The Little Sahara Recreation Area shall be included within the state park system
upon the division entering into the agreement described in Subsection (2)(a).
(6) (a) Upon the division entering into the agreement described in Subsection (2)(a),
the division shall rename the approximately 9,000-acre area known as the Rockwell
Outstanding Natural Area to the "Bill Orton State Wilderness Area," with the ranch within the
area being named the "Porter Rockwell Ranch."
(b) The director shall recommend the Bill Orton State Wilderness Area to the governor
for designation as a protected wilderness area, as described in Section 
63L-7-105
.
(7) Upon the Little Sahara Recreation Area's inclusion in the state park system, the
state shall be responsible for the cost of law enforcement within the Little Sahara Recreation
Area.