State Parks and Cultural Resources

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 36, ch. 4
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-101 Commission established; composition; appointment and terms of members; removal; representation from appointment districts; vacancies; meetings; president.

(a) There is established the Wyoming parks and cultural resources commission within the department of state parks and cultural resources which shall consist of nine (9) members, citizens of Wyoming. Not more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the members shall be from the same political party. Commission members shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the state senate, and may be removed by the governor as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. Appointments made between sessions of the legislature shall be made in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101. In addition, the governor is an ex officio member of the commission. (b) The term for commission members is five (5) years, and shall expire on March 1, providing that the terms of the members first appointed shall be staggered as follows: (i) Three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; (ii) Three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years; and (iii) Three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years. (c) Each appointment district pursuant to W.S. 9-1-218 shall at all times be represented by at least one (1) commissioner who is a resident of that district. (d) All vacancies occurring on the commission shall be filled by the governor in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101. (e) The first meeting of the commission shall be at the call of the governor. Thereafter, the commission shall meet at least once every three (3) months. Other meetings may be held at the call of the president of the commission, the governor or a majority of the commission members. (f) At the first meeting of the commission and thereafter at the regular September meeting of each year, the commission shall elect one (1) of its members president who shall hold his office for a term of one (1) year. If a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the commission shall elect a member of the commission to serve as president for the remainder of that term. (g) Effective July 1, 1979, appointments and terms under this section shall be in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103. (h) Any statute or legal or other document which refers to the Wyoming recreation commission established under subsection (a) of this section, as existing on and after April 1, 1990 and serving in an advisory capacity to the department of state parks and cultural resources, means the Wyoming parks and cultural resources commission which is the successor to the recreation commission, as existing on and after April 1, 1990. (j) As used in W.S. 36-4-101 through 36-4-119, "this act" means W.S. 36-4-101 through 36-4-119.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-102 Advisory board.

(a) There is established an advisory board consisting of one (1) member from each county to be appointed by the governor and to serve for a term of two (2) years. The governor may remove any board member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. (b) The president of the commission shall serve as the chairman of the advisory board. The advisory board shall meet at the call of the president of the commission or the governor.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-103 What constitutes outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

For the purposes of this act, outdoor recreation areas and facilities shall include state parks, public recreation grounds, historical parks, and historical, archaeological, geological and ecological sites now in existence or hereafter created. As used in this section, W.S. 36-4-105 and 36-4-108, "historical parks" includes all land and structures at South Pass City and Fort Fred Steele.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-104 Powers; interpretive service agreements.

(a) The department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission, may, subject to the provisions of this act: (i) Acquire and accept title in the name of the state of Wyoming, by grant, dedication, gift, devise, donation, or demise, to any lands suitable as an outdoor recreation area or facility; (ii) With the concurrence of the board of land commissioners, set aside and designate as an outdoor recreation area or facility any suitable tract of land belonging to the state of Wyoming which is not appropriated to some other fund or use; (iii) Take options to purchase lands subject to the approval and appropriation therefor of the next succeeding legislature; (iv) Accept any gifts or grants for archives, museums and historical purposes; (v) Deaccession artifacts from the state's collection; (vi) Enter into agreements with Wyoming financial institutions, financial institutions or persons operating remote electronic terminals for the collection of donations for the operation and maintenance of Wyoming state parks, historic sites and recreation areas. Donations received by the department pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in an operations and maintenance account and upon legislative appropriation shall be expended by the department for the daily operation of outdoor locations and facilities as described in W.S. 36-4-103. (b) To provide interpretive and educational services at recreation areas and facilities, the department may enter into agreements with private, nonprofit scientific, historic or educational organizations organized solely for the purpose of providing interpretive and educational services at Wyoming recreation areas and facilities. The department may under any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection, provide personnel services to assist any private, nonprofit organization with carrying out its interpretive and educational program and may provide space at or within any recreation area or facility for interpretive materials provided by the organization. Any organization entering into an agreement may: (i) Offer interpretive or educational materials for sale at recreation areas and facilities. Revenues collected from sales under this paragraph shall be retained by the organization solely for use in providing interpretive or educational services at the area or facility for which the organization provides these services; (ii) Acquire display materials and equipment for exhibit at areas and facilities; (iii) Support special area or facility interpretive or educational programs, other interpretive projects related to a specific area or facility and may support area or facility resource centers. (c) The department, with the advice of the commission, shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement subsection (b) of this section. Rules and regulations adopted under this subsection shall specify: (i) Procedures for entering into agreements for interpretive and educational services; (ii) Guidelines for approving interpretive materials which present both sides of an issue, if appropriate, in a balanced manner to be provided by the contracting organization at recreation areas and facilities; and (iii) Procedures for renewal and dissolution of agreements between the department and private, nonprofit organizations. (d) As used in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, "recreation areas and facilities" include both indoor and outdoor facilities at state parks, historic sites, recreation areas and historical, archaeological, geological and ecological sites as enumerated under W.S. 36-4-103. (e) The department, with the advice of the commission, shall adopt procedures in accordance with this act for the acquisition or designation of any lands to be used as an outdoor recreation area or facility. (f) The department, in consultation with the commission, may recommend that any outdoor recreation area and facility be no longer designated as such or may recommend that it be disposed of through sale, exchange, lease or assignment of fee ownership. The recommendation for removal of the designation or disposal shall follow application of the criteria and procedures for accessioning areas or facilities under W.S. 36-4-106(e), (f) and (g).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-105 Naming of sites and parks.

Each state park, public recreation ground, historic park or archaeological, geological or ecological site created and established under this act shall be given an appropriate name by the department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-106 Plan for acquisition and development of resources; authority of department; coordination of activities; exceptions; agreements with United States; state archaeologist.

(a) The department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission, shall prepare, maintain and keep up to date a comprehensive plan for the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation resources of the state. The department and the commission shall prepare the comprehensive plan in accordance with subsections (e) and (f) of this section. Authority is hereby granted to the department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission, to develop, operate and maintain outdoor recreation areas and facilities of the state and to acquire pursuant to provisions of law, but not by the power of eminent domain, land, waters and interest in land and waters for such areas and facilities. Authority is hereby granted to the department, in consultation with the commission, to enter into contracts and agreements with the United States, or any appropriate agency thereof, to keep financial and other records relating thereto, and to furnish to appropriate officials and agencies of the United States such reports and information as may be reasonably necessary to enable such officials or agencies to perform their duties under the provisions of Public Law 88-578 or any other applicable federal statutes. (b) In connection with obtaining the benefits of any such program for the state of Wyoming, the department shall coordinate its activities with and fairly represent the interests of all agencies of the state, county, city and any other governmental units having interests in the planning, acquisition, development or maintenance of outdoor recreation resources and facilities within the state. (c) The department, in consultation with the commission, may enter into and administer agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency thereof for planning, acquisition and development of projects involving participation under federal aid funds on behalf of any county, city or other governmental unit; provided that such county, city or other local government unit gives necessary assurance to the department that it has available sufficient funds to meet its share of the cost of the project and that the acquired and developed areas will be operated and maintained at its expense for public outdoor recreation use. (d) There shall be appointed within the department of state parks and cultural resources a state archaeologist, who shall be a member of the department of anthropology of the University of Wyoming. The state archaeologist shall receive an annual salary to be determined by the Wyoming human resources division, which shall be in addition to any compensation received from the university. The state archaeologist may: (i) Investigate, study, preserve and record such evidence of prehistoric and early historic human activity as shall be reported from time to time by citizens of the state or of which the survey may otherwise become aware; (ii) Begin and carry out as time permits an archaeological survey of the state, locating and recording all evidences of prehistoric and early historic human activity that may be encountered and maintaining records in the form of filed maps and documents deposited permanently at the University of Wyoming; (iii) Engage in systematic, intensive archaeological investigations of significance to the reconstruction of the prehistory and early history of the state as time and facilities permit and to solicit funds for this work from the various public and private foundations and other sources generally available to the field archaeologist; (iv) Prepare and publish from time to time technical reports bearing on the investigations carried out or of significance to the reconstruction of the prehistory and early history of the state; (v) Cooperate to the extent of capacity with communities and other agencies in the state interested in the establishment of local archaeological museums and related activities; (vi) Cooperate with all agencies to the extent of capacity in the protection from vandalism, natural and other kinds of destruction of all objects of archaeological significance, to investigate, exhume and consult regarding archaeological human burials pursuant to W.S. 7-4-106 and to render aid in the enforcement of the Wyoming Antiquities Act; (vii) Distribute all publications of the survey to the public on request, either free or at a price to be determined. (e) The department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission shall develop and maintain a comprehensive plan for the acquisition, disposal and development of outdoor recreation resources of the state. Criteria for evaluating resources for acquisition, disposal and development as an outdoor recreation area or facility under the plan shall be adopted as rules in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act. (f) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, prior to acquiring or accepting title to any lands for an outdoor recreation area or facility or designating or removing a designation of lands as an outdoor recreation area or facility, or disposing of any property as provided in W.S. 36-4-104(f), the department shall apply the site criteria process developed pursuant to subsection (e) of this section. The department shall consult with the commission regarding the application of the site criteria and may inform the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee regarding the potential acquisition, designation, disposal or removal of designation. The department shall determine if the site should be acquired or disposed of or the lands so designated or removed from designation. After consultation with the commission, if the department determines the site should be acquired or disposed of or so designated or removed from designation, it shall make the recommendation to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee. The committee shall prepare legislation for the acquisition, disposal, removal from designation or designation of lands as an outdoor recreation area or facility as it determines appropriate and necessary. (g) The department may dispose of, designate or remove from designation any lands for an outdoor recreation area or facility without complying with the provisions of subsection (e) or (f) of this section if: (i) The disposal, designation or removal of designation is de minimus in nature as provided in department rule and regulation. "De minimus", as used in this paragraph, means the property in question is less than five (5) acres in size; (ii) The action conforms to either the department's mission or the current strategic plan of the department; (iii) The action conforms to the provisions of the department's current master plan for the park or site where the property is located; and (iv) The action is presented to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee for informational purposes prior to completion of the action.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-107 Authority to lease; exchange of lands and contracts with United States.

The department, in consultation with the commission, shall have the power and is hereby authorized to lease, grant or operate any outdoor recreation area or facility belonging to the state which is not subject to lease, grant or operation by another agency of the state. The department, in consultation with the commission, may exchange state lands which are not appropriated to other use for United States outdoor recreation areas and facilities, and under contract with the United States, may take over the management, leasing and operation of any such area or facility. Where the department deems it to be in the best interest of the state, it may, in consultation with the commission, contract with the United States government or any authorized federal agency for the operation of any outdoor recreation area or facility established by the department.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-108 Acquisition and supervision of historical parks and sites.

(a) The department, in consultation with the commission, may receive or acquire, but not by use of the power of eminent domain, historical parks and sites within the state. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the department to receive, acquire and to maintain, but not by use of the power of eminent domain, land for other outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The department shall be subject to the provisions of W.S. 36-4-106(e) and (f) when acting pursuant to this section. (b) The department shall: (i) Supervise, maintain and control historic parks, including furnishing and controlling employees and equipment, possessing and controlling all items, objects and furnishings, and erecting all signs and markers; (ii) Interpret historic parks and prepare and arrange all items, objects, furnishings and information; (iii) Repealed by Laws 1990, ch. 44, § 3. (iv) Administer the state trails program; and (v) Erect, maintain and remove monuments and markers.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-109 Contracts and agreements with United States for improvements and maintenance.

The department, in consultation with the commission, is authorized to enter into contracts and agreements with the United States or any duly authorized representative or agency thereof to cause state outdoor recreation areas and facilities to be improved and maintained and for that purpose may contract to secure the labor of members of organizations under the control of the federal government or some duly authorized representative or agency thereof.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-110 Power to lease or rent concessions.

(a) The department, in consultation with the commission, is empowered to lease, enter into contracts and assess fees for concessions, cabin sites, boat clubs, and other services of all lawful kinds and nature on state outdoor recreation areas or facilities to persons, partnerships, and corporations for a valuable consideration upon terms and conditions as the department deems fit and proper. Funds received by the department pursuant to this section shall be deposited and expended in accordance with W.S. 36-4-121(h). (b) The department, with the advice of the commission, shall promulgate rules that shall apply to any for profit business concession with a five (5) year or greater contract or lease term to promote the uniform and effective administration of state outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Rules adopted under this subsection shall specify: (i) Uniform procedures for bidding, entering into leases or contracts and assessing fees under this section, consistent with W.S. 9-2-3204(b)(iv), and making any forms available in electronic format on the department website; (ii) Uniform guidelines for bonding and other obligations of service providers; (iii) Uniform contract and lease guidelines, including ranges within which to negotiate contract or lease terms including the duration of contracts and leases; and (iv) Any additional and prudent site-specific conditions and requirements.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-111 Authority to receive and expend monies; investments.

(a) The state treasurer, after consultation with the governor, is hereby authorized and directed to receive and credit to the appropriate account any grant, donation, or bequest which is made to the state of Wyoming or the department which contains a condition or restriction that the income only therefrom shall be expended for the purposes provided by this act. (b) The department, in consultation with the commission, shall have the authority to receive in trust, any money or property of any kind or character, donated, granted, or bequeathed to the commission, the department or the state of Wyoming for outdoor recreation areas and facilities and to carry out the terms, if any, of any such grant, donation or bequest, or in the absence of any terms or limitations, to expend the money or the proceeds of any such property as it may deem advisable for outdoor recreation areas or facilities under the provisions of this act. The department shall be subject to the provisions of W.S. 36-4-106(e) and (f) when accepting property pursuant to this section to be designated as an outdoor recreation area or facility. (c) Money received and the proceeds or other property likewise received and disposed of by the department, in consultation with the commission, may be expended by the department for the purposes of this act. (d) Any money under this section shall be invested by the state treasurer in securities of any of the classes in which he is permitted by law to invest the general school funds of this state, and the interest received thereon shall be placed at the disposal of the department to be used by it in carrying out the purposes of this act.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-112 Receipt and expenditure of federal funds; use of funds from land and water conservation fund.

Authority is hereby granted for the state of Wyoming and its authorized representatives, with the approval of the governor, to receive and to disburse federal monies which may now and hereafter be available under the provisions of Public Law 88-578 or any other applicable federal statutes, for the acquisition, development, operation and maintenance of outdoor recreation areas and facilities of the state. All funds received because of state participation in the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act shall accrue to the state treasurer who shall deposit them in the appropriate accounts. No funds so received shall be used for any purpose other than the administration of the provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act. Such projects may be undertaken by the department in consultation with the commission only after it has been determined that sufficient funds are available for meeting the state's share of project costs.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-113 Private improvement permits.

The department of state parks and cultural resources may grant permits to any individual, improvement club or voluntary association, or committee representing such clubs and associations, to improve, without expense to the state, any outdoor recreation area or facility established under the provisions of this act. All such improvements, changes, alterations or restorations shall be outlined in writing or set forth in drawings and specifications furnished by the department and the work undertaken shall be subject to inspection and supervision by the department during the course thereof.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-115 Rules and regulations; general penalty for violations.

(a) The department of state parks and cultural resources in consultation with the commission shall promulgate and enforce all reasonable rules and regulations necessary to carry out this act. (b) Rules and regulations promulgated by the department under this act and governing state parks and historic sites shall include the: (i) Conservation of peace and good order within each park; (ii) Preservation of state property; (iii) Promotion of the well-being of park visitors and residents; and (iv) Definition of a public nuisance within state parks and historic sites. (c) The department of state parks and cultural resources shall enforce its rules and regulations. (d) Any person violating this act or any rule and regulation promulgated by the department under subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-117 Jurisdiction over grazing districts.

Nothing in this act, shall be construed as giving jurisdiction to the department of state parks and cultural resources over interest in any grazing district established under the terms of the Taylor Grazing Act unless and until agreement and consent of the board of directors of the grazing district to this effect is formally secured.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-118 Compensation prohibited; per diem and travel expenses permitted.

The members of the commission and the advisory board shall not receive any compensation for their services, but when actually engaged in the performance of their duties, they shall be paid a per diem for each day of such actual service and be reimbursed for their travel expenses at the same rate applicable to travel expenses of other state officers.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-119 Existing agreements binding; successor to records and duties; taxation exemption.

(a) Effective April 1, 1990 the department of commerce shall be bound by any and all agreements, contracts and obligations incurred by the Wyoming recreation commission to which it had been bound because they were incurred by the Wyoming state parks commission and land and water conservation commission and Old South Pass historical preserve commission prior to July 1, 1973, and shall succeed to all records, documents, equipment, and other personal or real property under the control and management of the parks commission of Wyoming and the state land and water conservation commission of Wyoming and the Old South Pass historical preserve commission of Wyoming acquired and used in the performance of duties previously imposed upon those commissioners. All money from operation of the Old South Pass historical preserve shall be credited to the general fund. Effective July 1, 1999 the department of state parks and cultural resources shall be bound by any and all agreements, contracts and obligations incurred by the department of commerce to which it had been bound because they were incurred by the Wyoming state parks commission and land and water conservation commission and Old South Pass historical preserve commission prior to July 1, 1973, and shall succeed to all records, documents, equipment, and other personal or real property under the control and management of the parks commission of Wyoming and the state land and water conservation commission of Wyoming and the Old South Pass historical preserve commission of Wyoming acquired and used in the performance of duties previously imposed upon those commissioners. All money from operation of the Old South Pass historical preserve shall be credited in accordance with W.S. 36-4-121(h). (b) The department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission, is hereby charged with the duties and responsibilities heretofore devolved upon the Old South Pass historical preserve, and for the purpose of discharging same is hereby invested with all the powers and authority heretofore vested in such Old South Pass historical preserve, subject to the same limitations thereof; and the department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission, is authorized to delegate the same, or so much thereof as it shall provide, to an administrator or to a committee appointed by it for the performance of its functions hereunder. (c) User fees and other charges for the South Pass preserve development are exempt from taxation by the state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-121 Permits to use state parks, recreation areas and historic sites.

(a) The department of state parks and cultural resources shall offer for sale permits that allow use of state parks, recreation areas, archeological sites and historic sites as designated by the department with the approval of the Wyoming parks and cultural resources commission. Permits may be subject to per person, per vehicle or time restrictions or any other restriction the director of the department deems appropriate. The director may waive any permit fee imposed pursuant to this section, offer discounts or offer at no charge complimentary permits or gift certificates for permits authorized by this section. Except as provided in subsection (n) of this section, the cost of the permits authorized under this section shall be approved by the commission and set in an amount not to exceed the following: (i) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (ii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (iii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (iv) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (v) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (vi) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (vii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (viii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (ix) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (x) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (xi) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (xii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (xiii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (xiv) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (xv) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 12, § 2. (xvi) Waived for the following: (A) Persons needing to pass through a state park or historic site to access private property shall be exempt from the entrance permit requirements of this section; (B) Persons needing access to a state park or historic site to conduct official business or only to access a private commercial business without further use of the state park or historic site shall be exempt from the entrance permit requirements of this section; (C) School groups on school sanctioned events including events sanctioned by educational programs defined under W.S. 21-4-101(a)(iii), (iv) and (v), and residents and staff of publicly owned homes or institutions while on official agency functions shall be exempt from the entrance permit requirements of this section; (D) Not for profit groups or organizations needing access to a state park or historic site to provide volunteer assistance or services that have been previously agreed upon by the department of state parks and cultural resources shall be exempt from the permit requirements of this section. (xvii) Resident annual daily use permit .................................................... $64.00 (xviii) Nonresident annual daily use permit .................................................... $96.00 (xix) Resident daily use fee...............$8.00 (xx) Nonresident daily use fee.............$12.00 (xxi) Resident overnight camping permit...$12.00 (xxii) Nonresident overnight camping permit...............................................$18.00 (xxiii) Annual resident overnight camping permit...............................................$96.00 (xxiv) Per person daily use bus fee for guided tours, which shall not be charged to persons under the age of eighteen (18) years............................................$5.00 (xxv) Daily use lodge permit.............$300.00 (xxvi) Daily use group picnic shelter and adjacent ground permit.......................................$150.00 (b) The department or any selling agent of the department may issue additional vehicle annual daily use permits or additional vehicle annual overnight camping permits upon payment of a fee in an amount not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the original annual permit. (c) The department or any selling agent of the department may issue duplicate annual daily use permits or annual resident overnight camping permits upon the holder of the permit filing an affidavit showing the loss, mutilation or destruction of the original permit and upon payment of a fee in an amount not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the cost of the original annual permit. (d) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 50, § 3. (e) The department through the division of state parks and historic sites shall in accordance with W.S. 36-4-123, appoint selling agents to sell annual daily use and annual camping permits authorized under this section. Each appointed selling agent shall retain ten percent (10%) of the cost of each permit sold under this section as his sales commission. Designated department employees may sell permits required by this section but no employee of the department shall receive any commission on permits sold. (f) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 50, § 3. (g) Repealed by Laws 1992, ch. 50, § 3. (h) The funds received by the department from the sale of the permits shall be deposited into an account within the special revenue fund, hereby created as the state parks account, and, except as otherwise provided by this subsection, may be expended by the department for capital construction projects, major maintenance, and site interpretation such as exhibits, signage and displays as approved by the legislature. Interest on funds in the account shall accrue to the account. Not more than sixty percent (60%) of the funds in the account in any fiscal year may also be expended, with legislative approval, for maintenance and operational costs of outdoor recreation areas and facilities provided that no amount shall be expended for additional full-time employees or increases in salaries or overtime pay for full-time employees. (j) Any person using state parks, recreation areas, archeological sites and historic sites and failing to obtain a permit authorized by this section and any person otherwise violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both. (k) The department of state parks and cultural resources is authorized to contract with the town of Ranchester to implement a fee collection program at Connor Battlefield state historic site and to provide for park maintenance and operation. Notwithstanding subsection (h) of this section, fees collected for overnight camping at Connor Battlefield state historic site shall be deposited into a separate account and may be expended by the department pursuant to contracts entered into under this subsection. (m) Repealed by Laws 2009, Ch. 168, § 207. (n) Any resident disabled veteran who receives fifty percent (50%) or more service connected disability compensation from the United States department of veteran's affairs may apply to the department for a lifetime permit authorizing the use of state parks, recreation areas, archeological sites and historic sites without payment of any daily use, overnight or other fee authorized to be charged pursuant to this section. Only one (1) permit shall be issued to any qualified applicant under this subsection and shall be valid for the applicant and for all occupants of the applicant's vehicle. In addition to information and other application procedural requirements prescribed by rule and regulation of the department, application for the lifetime permit shall include proof of residency and certification of the service connected disability. The lifetime permit is valid as long as the holder is a Wyoming resident. A permit under this subsection shall be issued to an eligible applicant without the imposition of a fee. (o) The department is authorized to sponsor special events and to contract with groups sponsoring special events at state parks, recreation areas, archeological sites or historic sites. A special event fee may be charged regardless of whether a daily use fee has been established by law and in addition to any other fee. All funds received from special events sponsored by the department shall be deposited in special events account. The funds deposited within the account are continuously appropriated to and may be expended by the department to conduct special events directly or pursuant to contracts entered under this subsection. (p) Repealed By Laws 2008, Ch. 63, § 2. (q) There is created the LX Bar Ranch challenge account. The department of state parks and cultural resources may accept gifts from any individual or entity to maintain and improve the LX Bar Ranch and deposit those funds to the account. State funds deposited to the account are continuously appropriated to the department of state parks and cultural resources for purposes of maintaining and improving the LX Bar Ranch, but shall only be expended from the account upon a dollar for dollar matching distribution of nonstate funds or a matching contribution of in kind gifts. Funds in the account shall not lapse at the end of any fiscal period. (r) The department may establish methods whereby voluntary contributions may be accepted in support of state parks, historic sites, archeological sites or recreation areas. The department may suggest and solicit specific contribution amounts. (s) The department may, with the approval of the commission, charge an amenities fee in addition to any other fee authorized under this section for services designated by the commission as added amenities. Funds collected from the amenities fee authorized by this subsection shall be deposited in a separate account and are continuously appropriated to the department to pay the utility fees and maintenance costs for the additional amenities offered. The remaining funds collected from the amenities fee authorized by this subsection at the end of the fiscal year may be deposited in the state parks account and expended in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Revenues and expenditures under this subsection for each of the immediately preceding two (2) fiscal years shall be reported within the department's biennial budget request submitted under W.S. 9-2-1013. (t) The department shall include as part of the opportunity to purchase a permit that allows use of state parks, recreation areas, archeological sites and historic sites the option for a permittee to donate an additional amount in support of wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. Funds collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the wildlife conservation account created by W.S. 31-2-231(b).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-122 Administration of Hot Springs state park.

(a) Effective April 1, 1990, the authority for management, control and administration of the Hot Springs state park located at Thermopolis, Hot Springs county, is vested in the department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission. Effective July 1, 1999, the authority for management, control and administration of the Hot Springs state park located at Thermopolis, Hot Springs county, is vested in the department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the commission. The state park will be administered by the department in accordance with W.S. 36-8-301 through 36-8-405. (b) Repealed by Laws 1990, ch. 44, § 3. (c) Repealed by Laws 1990, ch. 44, § 3.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-123 Selling agents for registrations, licenses and permits.

(a) The department of state parks and cultural resources through the division of parks and historic sites shall appoint selling agents to sell snowmobile registrations pursuant to W.S. 31-2-402 and 31-2-410, permits under W.S. 36-4-121 and other licenses, registrations and permits for which the department may by law be required to issue and collect fees. Selling agents appointed under this section shall be bonded by the department, subject to the following: (i) The appointed agent, prior to September 1 preceding the calendar year for which the bond is to be in effect, shall pay to the department a nonrefundable annual bonding fee of fifty dollars ($50.00); (ii) Any newly appointed agent shall pay the bonding fee prescribed under paragraph (a)(i) of this section to the department immediately upon appointment for the remainder of the calendar year in which appointed; (iii) Bonding fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in a bond pool account, from which any claim against the bond of any selling agent and not directly collected from the agent shall be paid. (b) Each selling agent appointed under subsection (a) of this section shall: (i) On or before the tenth day of each month on forms provided by the division, file a report with the division stating all sales of registrations, licenses or permits by the agent during the preceding month; (ii) Remit to the division all revenues collected by the agent from registration, license or permit sales during the preceding month reported under paragraph (b)(i) of this section, less any sales commission authorized by law; (iii) Annually account for and deliver to the division all unused, surplus or damaged registration decals, licenses or permits received by the agent. (c) In addition to any other penalty imposed by law, any selling agent failing to comply with this section and other applicable law shall not receive any sales commission authorized by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-201 Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund Act."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-202 Definitions.

(a) As used in this act: (i) "Board" means the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board created by W.S. 36-4-204; (ii) "Income account" means the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust income account created by W.S. 36-4-203(b); (iii) "Large project" means a project for which the total of all grants sought or previously awarded under this act equals or exceeds two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00); (iv) "Outdoor recreation infrastructure" means the physical facilities and structures that support outdoor recreational activities and experiences for residents and nonresidents, including, but not limited to, parking, staging areas, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, boat launches, fishing piers, observation decks, wildlife viewing areas and visitor centers; (v) "Select committee" means the select natural resource funding committee created by W.S. 28-11-401; (vi) "Small project" means a project for which the total of all grants sought or previously awarded under this act is less than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00); (vii) "Trust account" means the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund account created by W.S. 36-4-203(a); (viii) "This act" means W.S 36-4-201 through 36-4-206.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-203 Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund account and trust fund income account; creation; source of funds.

(a) The Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund account is created. The trust account shall consist of those funds designated to the account by law and all monies collected from federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, bequests and donations in the trust account. The trust account is specifically empowered to accept grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations. Funds deposited within the trust account shall be inviolate and constitute a perpetual trust fund which shall be invested by the state treasurer as authorized by law and in a manner to obtain the highest return possible consistent with preservation of the trust account corpus. (b) The Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund income account is created. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the state treasurer shall credit annually to the income account all earnings from funds in both the income account and in the trust account. Until the earlier of July 1, 2026 or when the corpus of the trust account equals or exceeds two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000.00), all earnings from the trust account and income account shall be credited to the trust account. The legislature may appropriate funds directly to the trust account or income account for investment or distribution in accordance with the terms of this act. Any appropriated funds without a designation shall be credited directly by the state treasurer to the income account. (c) Any person may grant, give, transfer, bequest or donate funds to the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund account or the income account created by this section. The person may specify in writing whether the funds should be credited to the trust account or the income account and if no specification is made, the funds shall be credited to the income account. (d) The board may expend funds from the income account for administrative expenses authorized under this act without further legislative action. Additional expenditures from the income account may be made by the board without further legislative action for the following purposes: (i) Planning, design, improvement, construction and maintenance of existing or new outdoor recreational infrastructure; (ii) Acquisition of public access easements necessary to enhance outdoor recreational infrastructure. (e) No funds shall be expended from the income account for large projects except upon specific legislative authorization. Following the initial legislative authorization to expend funds for a large project, the board may approve additional grants for that large project not to equal or exceed a total amount of an additional two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00). The board shall forward a notice of any such additional grant award to the select committee within thirty (30) days of each approval. Subsequent legislative authorization shall be required for any grant in excess of the limits of this subsection. (f) The board shall not have the power of eminent domain. (g) Every public access easement funded in whole or in part with monies made available by this act shall bind the parties thereto to an agreement which provides that the state of Wyoming is a third party beneficiary to the easement solely with the contingent right to enforce the terms of the easement if the grantee fails to enforce any of the terms of the easement. The agreement shall provide that if the easement is transferred for value, sold or extinguished without the consent of the board, the state of Wyoming shall have the right to either take legal action to enforce the terms of the easement or to recover from the proceeds of the transfer for value, sale or extinguishment, the state's pro rata share of the proceeds based on the funds the state provided for the creation of the easement. (h) No funds shall be disbursed under this act unless the person receiving the funds certifies that no gratuities, kickbacks, gifts, commissions, contingency fees or other considerations have been or will be made in connection with the appropriation or the associated grant made by the board.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-204 Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board established; terms; meetings; duties, conflict of interest.

(a) There is created the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board. The board shall consist of nine (9) members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, who shall be residents of Wyoming. The members shall be appointed from each of the judicial districts set forth in W.S. 5-3-101. The board membership shall reflect a broad spectrum of outdoor recreation experiences, which may include wildlife management, sportsmen, tourism, motorized and non-motorized recreation and private land ownership. (b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, each appointed member of the board shall serve for a term of six (6) years and may be reappointed for one (1) consecutive, additional term. Upon creation of the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board, three (3) members of the board shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years and three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years. The governor may remove any member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. Any vacancy occurring between sessions of the legislature may be filled by the governor as provided under W.S. 28-12-101(b). The board shall select one (1) of its members to serve as chairman. (c) The secretary to the board shall be the manager of the Wyoming outdoor recreation office within the department of state parks and cultural resources. The secretary to the board shall administer funds at the direction of the board and shall further act as liaison for the board to other state, federal and local governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, or the cooperative tribal governing body, as well as nonprofit organizations, residents and nonresidents who seek to provide input regarding grant proposals. (d) The board shall meet regularly, not less than four (4) time per year. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in the manner and amounts provided by law for state employees. (e) The board shall receive and evaluate applications for grants from the income account and shall forward applications for large projects to the select committee for review and recommendation. The board may approve grants for any small project. Funds in the income account are continuously appropriated for small project grants approved by the board and for approved large projects as specified by W.S. 36-4-203(e). (f) The board shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act as necessary to carry out its duties under this act, including rules and regulations to: (i) Establish criteria for grants from the income account which accomplish the purposes of this act; (ii) Establish criteria for matching funds or other in-kind contributions from grantees; (iii) Evaluate and rank grant proposals, with emphasis on those projects that include support from multiple partners and funding sources; (iv) Review and monitor grants to grantees; (v) Evaluate the effects of grant proposals on providing recreation and tourism opportunities for residents and nonresidents; (vi) Establish criteria for the acceptance or rejection of gifts, transfers, bequests and donations including interests in real or personal property, which criteria shall be consistent with this act. Based on those criteria, the board shall make a recommendation regarding the acceptance of any fee simple interest in real property to the board of land commissioners. Based on the board's recommendation, the board of land commissioners shall make a final determination on acceptance or rejection of any fee simple interest in real property under this act; (vii) Consider the benefits and impacts of grant proposals on local communities, including its socioeconomic, cultural, natural and wildlife resources; (viii) Consult, or ensure that the applicant has consulted, with other governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribe, or the cooperative tribal governing body, stakeholders and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate. (g) In fulfilling its duties under this act the board may: (i) Accept or decline federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations of any money, personal property or interests in real property other than a fee simple interest from any source. The board shall make a recommendation regarding the acceptance of any fee simple interest in real property to the board of land commissioners; (ii) Recommend to the joint appropriations committee and the select committee that funds be transferred from the income account to the trust account. (h) No board member shall vote or otherwise participate in any matter regarding a contract or project in which the board member has a financial or personal interest. When such interest appears, the board member shall make such interest known, and shall thenceforth refrain from voting on or otherwise participating in the particular matter involving such interest. (j) The board shall annually report to the governor, the joint appropriations committee, the select committee and the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee no later than October 1 with respect to all federal grants, state appropriations and other contributions, grants, gifts, bequests and donations received and credited to the trust account or income account during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall include all grants awarded by the board to governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribe, or the cooperative tribal governing body and nonprofit organizations and progress made toward the condition of any grant made.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-205 Grant applications; eligible entities.

(a) The board shall only grant funds to governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, or the cooperative tribal governing body and nonprofit organizations. The board shall award grants in accordance with W.S. 36-4-204(e) and (f). The board shall have the discretion to determine the amount of each grant and any conditions attached to the grant. (b) Grants by the board shall not provide a supplement to, or replacement of, the operating budget of any governmental entity or nonprofit organization except as those funds are directly related to the purposes of the grant. (c) No grants shall be awarded under this act until rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to W.S. 36-4-204(f) have become effective.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 36-4-206 Audits.

The director of the department of audit or his designee shall audit the trust and income accounts on a regular basis. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the governor, the joint appropriations committee, the select committee and the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee.
Source: Public.Resource.Org WY StatutesURL: https://unicourt.github.io/cic-code-wy/transforms/wy/ocwy/r78/gov.wy.code.title.36.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026

Starting a business in Wyoming? Wyoming LLC guide: costs and requirements