Senator Don White's Bill Protects Penn's Woods Scout Camp

Will enact measures to maintain state park services

State Senator Don White (R-41) will introduce legislation (SB 974) this week to ensure the Commonwealth honors its lease permitting the Penn's Woods Boy Scouts Council to camp in Yellow Creek State Park.

"Where I come from, a deal is a deal. When the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) signed a lease with the Penn's Woods Council, it committed the Commonwealth to allowing the Boy Scouts to camp in Yellow Creek State Park," Senator White said. "I find it extremely disturbing that the Department would even consider reneging on the lease to promote the Governor's budget."

Senator White's legislation would preserve the rights of any group with a valid lease to use a state park regardless of any decision by the DCNR to close, restrict access to, or modify services at the facility.

"Youth organizations like the scouts and the State Police Camp Cadet program hold leases with the DCNR to use state park facilities. My legislation will provide stability and surety for those groups. They will be assured that their arrangements to use the state park system will not be impacted now or into the future," Senator White said. "Our state parks are owned by and intended for the use of all citizens. Neither they nor the individuals and groups that enjoy them should be used as pawns to promote a political agenda."

DCNR Acting Secretary John Quigley recently submitted a letter containing a list of 50 potential state parks (including Yellow Creek) to be evaluated for closing as part of the impasse over the state budget.

The Senate is expected to consider legislation later this week that would ensure that funding for services at state parks is not reduced as a result of budget constraints, Senator White said.

The measures, introduced by Senator Mary Jo White, chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, would permit the DCNR to use funds from the Environmental Stewardship/Growing Greener Fund (Senate Bill 962) and Key '93 realty transfer tax revenue (Senate Bill 963) for the continued operation and maintenance of Pennsylvania's 117 state parks.

"Essentially, these bills will not require any transfer of funding to state parks, but rather provides options to the Administration that will allow Pennsylvania's state park system to remain open regardless of the budget situation," Senator Don White said. "I support this effort and will be voting for these bills when they come before the Senate for a final vote."

Contact:

Joe Pittman
(717) 787-8724