§ 63C-21-202 — Strategic plan -- Commission powers and duties -- Consultant -- Reports.

(1) (1)(a) The commission shall gather information on recreation assets from state and local agencies and other sources and develop a strategic plan aimed at meeting the future needs of outdoor recreation within the state to enhance the quality of life of Utah residents. Asset lists received from state and local agencies shall include:
(1)(a)(i) common data points, to be established by the Division of Outdoor Recreation that can be uniformly compared with other recreation assets within the state, such as asset type, size, unique characteristics, vegetation, land ownership, and similar items;
(1)(a)(ii) any specific needs, challenges, or limitations on recreation use of the assets; and
(1)(a)(iii) a ranking of potential enhancements to the assets related to recreation use.
(1)(b) The strategic plan shall address:
(1)(b)(i) outdoor recreation as a major contributor to residents' quality of life;
(1)(b)(ii) the needs and impacts of residents who engage in outdoor recreation;
(1)(b)(iii) the impact on local communities related to outdoor recreation, including the costs associated with emergency services and infrastructure;
(1)(b)(iv) outdoor recreation as a means to retain and attract an exceptional workforce to provide for a sustainable economy;
(1)(b)(v) impacts to the environment, wildlife, and natural resources and measures to preserve the natural beauty of the state as more people engage in outdoor recreation;
(1)(b)(vi) identify opportunities for sustainable revenue sources to provide for maintenance and future needs;
(1)(b)(vii) the interface with public lands that are federally managed and private lands; and
(1)(b)(viii) other items determined by the commission.
(2) The commission shall:

(2)(a) engage one or more consultants to:
(2)(a)(i) manage the strategic planning process in accordance with Subsection (3); and
(2)(a)(ii) conduct analytical work in accordance with Subsection (3);
(2)(b) guide the analytical work of a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a) and review the results of the work;
(2)(c) coordinate with a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a) to engage in a process and create a strategic plan;
(2)(d) conduct regional meetings to gather stakeholder input during the strategic planning process;
(2)(e) seek input from federal entities including the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Utah's congressional delegation; and
(2)(f) produce a final report including a strategic plan and any recommendations.
(3) The commission, by contract with a consultant engaged under Subsection (2)(a), shall direct the consultant to:

(3)(a) conduct an inventory of existing outdoor recreation resources, programs, and information;
(3)(b) conduct an analysis of what is needed to develop and implement an effective outdoor recreation strategy aimed at enhancing the quality of life of Utah residents;
(3)(c) collect and analyze data related to the future projected conditions of the outdoor recreation resources, programs, and information, including the affordability and financing of outdoor recreation;
(3)(d) develop alternatives to the projection described in Subsection (3)(c) by modeling potential changes to the outdoor recreation industry and economic growth;
(3)(e) in coordination with the commission, engage in extensive local stakeholder involvement to better understand the needs of, concerns of, and opportunities for different communities and outdoor recreation user types;
(3)(f) recommend accountability or performance measures to assess the effectiveness of the outdoor recreation system;
(3)(g) based on the data described in this Subsection (3), make comparisons between outdoor recreation in Utah and outdoor recreation in other states or countries;
(3)(h) in coordination with the commission, conduct the regional meetings described in Subsection (2)(d) to share information and seek input from a range of stakeholders;
(3)(i) recommend changes to the governance system for outdoor recreation that would facilitate implementation of the strategic plan;
(3)(j) engage in any other data collection or analysis requested by the commission; and
(3)(k) produce for the commission:
(3)(k)(i) a draft report of findings, observations, and strategic priorities, including:

(3)(k)(i)(A) a statewide vision and strategy for outdoor recreation;
(3)(k)(i)(B) a strategy for how to meaningfully engage stakeholders throughout the state;
(3)(k)(i)(C) funding needs related to outdoor recreation; and
(3)(k)(i)(D) recommendations for the steps the state should take to implement a statewide vision and strategy for outdoor recreation; and
(3)(k)(ii) a final report, incorporating feedback from the commission on the draft report described in Subsection (3)(k)(i), regarding the future of the outdoor recreation in the state.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 68, 2022 General Session