§20-5-1. Section of parks and recreation; chief of section; existing obligation; appropriations.

(a) The section of parks and recreation of the Division of Natural Resources shall have within its jurisdiction and supervision the parks functions of the former Division of Tourism and parks, transferred to the Division of Natural Resources pursuant to the provisions of section twelve, article one, chapter five-b of this code enacted in the year 1994. The section of parks and recreation shall be under the control of a chief, to be appointed by and to serve at the will and pleasure of the director, who shall be qualified by reason of exceptional training and experience in the field of public recreation administration or natural resource management.

(b) The Division of Natural Resources shall have the duty and authority to administer those properties which are a part of the state parks and public recreation system, to which legal title has remained with the Division of Natural Resources, while the section of parks and recreation was part of the former Division of Tourism and parks.

(c) All existing contracts and obligations of the section of parks and recreation, including those in the name of the Division of Tourism and parks administered on behalf of the section of parks and recreation, shall remain in full force and effect and any existing contracts and obligations relating to parks and recreation shall be performed by the Division of Natural Resources.

(d) The transfer, made pursuant to executive order, to the Division of Natural Resources of the unexpended balance existing on June 30, 1995, in any appropriation originally made to the Division of Tourism and parks is hereby ratified.