Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · S

S. 309 (104th)

National Park Service Concession Policy Reform Act of 1995

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

1 February 1995

Last action

15 September 1995 · Committee

Status

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-469.

Sponsors

Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Bumpers, Dale [D-AR], Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA], Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Sen. Pryor, David H. [D-AR], Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI], Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO]

Subjects

Taxation

Source updated

24 March 2026

Taxation

Summary

National Park Service Concession Policy Reform Act of 1995 - Repeals the Concessions Policy Act of 1965. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to authorize, under specified conditions, private persons, corporations, or other entities to provide and operate such facilities and services as the Secretary deems necessary and appropriate in the National Park System (NPS). (Sec. 6) Authorizes the Secretary, upon request and under specified criteria, to allow such entities to provide services to park visitors other than by award of a concession contract or permit. Requires the provision of such services to have minimal impact on park resources and values and to be consistent with park purposes. Provides a two-year term limit for the provision of such services. (Sec. 7) Requires a concession contract to be awarded to the person submitting the best proposal through a competitive selection process to be established by the Secretary. Allows waiver of such procedures and award of a temporary contract to avoid interruption of services. Requires the Secretary to publish a notice of availability for a prospectus soliciting proposals for contracts for concessions at a Park specifying minimum contract requirements and contract terms and conditions. Requires congressional notification of any proposed contract with anticipated gross receipts exceeding $5 million or of a duration of ten or more years. Prohibits the Secretary from granting a preferential right to a concessioner to: (1) renew concession contracts under this Act, with exceptions; or (2) provide new or additional services at a park. Allows such preferential rights to be granted for certain outfitting and guide contracts and certain contracts with annual gross receipts of under $500,000. (Sec. 8) Sets forth criteria for determining franchise fees, including fees for multiple franchise contracts within a park. (Sec. 9) Requires all fees to be: (1) covered into a special Treasury account established for reallocation to NPS units for resource management and protection, maintenance activities, interpretation, and research; or (2) deposited into a Park Improvement Fund established by the concessioner (as directed by the Secretary) from which expenditures shall be made for park activities and projects. Requires: (1) an annual statement from the concessioner to the Secretary reflecting total activity in the Fund for the preceding fiscal year; and (2) an annual report from the Secretary to specified congressional committees concerning Fund expenditures. (Sec. 10) Establishes a maximum: (1) ten-year duration for a concessions contract, provided that the Secretary may award a contract for up to 20 years if determined necessary; and (2) two-year duration for a temporary contract. (Sec. 11) Requires the approval of the Secretary and congressional notification before a concession contract can be transferred, assigned, sold, or conveyed and sets forth conditions that preclude such conveyance. (Sec. 12) Grants possessory interest to: (1) concessioners who have commenced acquisition or construction of any structure on Federal land within a park before the enactment of this Act; and (2) concessioners who construct or acquire an improvement on U.S. land within a Park after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 13) Places limitations on a concessioner's rates and charges to the public. (Sec. 14) Directs the Secretary to: (1) periodically evaluate the performance of each concessioner under contract; (2) terminate a contract if a concessioner fails, within the prescribed time, to meet minimum requirements identified in a notice of unsatisfactory performance; and (3) notify specified congressional committees of each unsatisfactory rating and each contract terminated. (Sec. 15) Provides that the Comptroller General of the United States shall, until the expiration of five calendar years after the close of the business year for each concessioner, have access to and the right to examine any pertinent books, documents, papers, and records of the concessioner related to the contracts. (Sec. 16) Exempts contracts awarded by the Secretary under this Act from certain provisions of Federal law with respect to the leasing of U.S. buildings and properties. (Sec. 18) Requires the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior to submit biannual reports to specified congressional committees on the implementation of this Act and its effect on facilities operated pursuant to concession contracts and on visitor services. (Sec. 19) Authorizes appropriations.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 1 February 1995

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1945-1948)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 1 February 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 1 February 1995

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 2 February 1995

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Parks, Preservation and Recreation.

    Source: Committee

  5. 7 June 1995

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Department of the Interior, and Office of Management and Budget.

    Source: Committee

  6. 15 September 1995

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-469.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in Senate (text)

View fileDownload file

This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 1 February 1995

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 1 February 1995

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 1 February 1995

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.