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An Act To Support Maine State Parks
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1825, sub-§5  is enacted to read:
 
5.  State Parks Improvement Fund established; sale of merchandise.     The State Parks Improvement Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established within the bureau. The fund is nonlapsing. The bureau may sell within parks or historic sites general merchandise that is distinctive to the parks or historic sites or useful to the enjoyment of the parks or historic sites. Items that may be sold include, but are not limited to, hats, coffee mugs, bumper stickers, t-shirts, tote bags and firewood. Merchandise sold by the bureau must be of good quality, appropriate for sale by the bureau and sold for a reasonable fee. The bureau also may rent items to be used for the enjoyment of the park or historic site, including, but not limited to, rowboats, canoes, kayaks and bicycles. To the extent the bureau needs to contract with vendors to obtain goods or services in order to develop, create or manufacture merchandise for sale or lease, the commissioner shall, to the maximum extent practicable, contract with vendors located in this State. All proceeds from the sale or lease of merchandise pursuant to this subsection must be deposited in the fund and used for the operation and maintenance of parks.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands to sell merchandise and rent equipment at state parks and historic sites and deposit the money received into the State Parks Improvement Fund, a dedicated account to be used for the operations and maintenance of state parks.