Call to Order and Roll Call
The first meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 169 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Jill York, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Rick Girdler, Co-Chair; Representative Jill York, Co-Chair; Senators Perry B. Clark, Denise Harper Angel, Alice Forgy Kerr, and Max Wise; Representatives Toby Herald, Steve Riggs, Diane St. Onge, and Tommy Turner.
Guests: David A. Dickerson, Secretary, Public Protection Cabinet (PPC); Gail Russell, Deputy Secretary, PPC; Elizabeth Kuhn, Communications Director, PPC; Donnie Holland, Commissioner, Department of Parks, Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet (TAHC); Rob Richards, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Parks, TAHC; William H. Novak, Director, Facilities Management, Department of Parks, TAHC; and Representative Dan Johnson.
LRC Staff: Seth Dawson, Greg Troutman, and Benjamin Thompson.
Overview of the Public Protection Cabinet
Secretary Dickerson provided a brief update on the budget of the Public Protection Cabinet (PPC).
In response to questions from Representative Johnson, Secretary Dickerson stated that PPC currently provides training for charitable gaming licenses on Facebook live. Secretary Dickerson noted that charitable gaming ventures raise several hundred million dollars for the state.
Overview of the Department of Parks and update on "Refreshing the Finest"
Commissioner Holland provided a brief update on the budget of the Department of Parks as well as an update on the status of the Department's "Refreshing the Finest" program.
In response to questions from Chair York, Commissioner Holland noted that there are now twelve state resort parks and two golf courses that allow alcohol sales. Alcohol sales in state parks have generated $539,000 in profit for the state in the last year. Commissioner Holland confirmed that the Department of Parks had to update equipment prior to allowing online bookings for rooms and campsites.
In response to a question from Senator Wise, Commissioner Holland said that no state parks have Kentucky craft beer on tap.
There being no further business before the subcommittee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:37 AM.