SB 2504 Summary

• Creates a new Division of Parks and Recreation within the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks with exclusive authority over all state parks operations.

• Establishes that the Executive Director of Parks and Recreation shall be appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, serve four-year terms, and have independent authority from the department's executive director.

• Requires the Department's Executive Director to be appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, serve four-year terms, and be eligible for reappointment subject to Senate approval.

• Specifies minimum qualifications for both the Executive Director (master's degree in wildlife/fisheries conservation or public administration plus six years management experience) and Executive Director of Parks and Recreation (master's degree in parks and recreation or public administration plus six years management experience).

• Removes references to "parks and recreation" from the Executive Director's educational requirements and clarifies that the Executive Director's powers do not extend to state parks, which fall under the Division of Parks and Recreation.