AR SB156

Appropriates $16,559,925 from the Parks and Tourism Fund Account for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks and Tourism Divisions - State Operations for fiscal year 2021-2022, including $11,812,619 for regular salaries and $4,714,706 for personal services matching.

Establishes maximum of 741 regular employees across various positions ranging from Parks Division Director (Grade SE01) to Maintenance Assistants and Waitstaff (Grade GS01), and authorizes 801 temporary or part-time "Extra Help" employees.

Appropriates $55,307,850 from Conservation Tax funds for capital outlay ($1,878,000), construction ($26,874,272), special maintenance ($3,168,615), and operating expenses for state parks and tourism divisions.

Appropriates additional funds from multiple sources including $18,293,841 from Tourism Development Trust Fund for tourism promotion and advertising, $7,828,507 for outdoor recreation grants, $37,234,223 from parks cash fund operations, and $20,000,000 for Delta Heritage Trail construction.

Requires Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee approval of parks budget allocations prior to July 1 each fiscal year and includes special provisions authorizing cash prizes for park events, employee golf lesson contracts, and small festival funding of $150,000 annually.