Board of trustees-systems of public recreation amendment.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Allemand and 6 co-sponsors

SF 47 would let local governments sit as or appoint a board of trustees for a public recreation system, with rules on removal, vacancies, and minimum board size.

S:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to SR 5-4

Summary — SF 47: Board of trustees — systems of public recreation amendment

Status: Died in committee (S:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to SR 5-4)
Introduced: January 15, 2025
Sponsors: Sen. Landen, Sen. Reichman (primary), Sen. Anderson, Sen. Ide, Sen. Schuler; Reps. Allemand, Byron, E. Campbell (cosponsors)
Fiscal note: No fiscal or personnel impact reported
Effective date if enacted: July 1, 2025

Purpose / intent

SF 47 would clarify and expand how local governments govern public recreation systems and playgrounds by authorizing a city, town, county or school district governing body to act directly as the board of trustees for a system of public recreation (or to appoint a separate board), and by making conforming changes to statutes governing trustee composition, removal and vacancies.

Key provisions

Authorizes the governing body of any city, town, county or school district, acting independently or jointly with other political subdivisions, to:

Sit as the board of trustees for a system of public recreation established under W.S. 18-9-101(a)(i)–(iii), or
Appoint a separate board of trustees to control, establish, maintain and supervise public recreation properties and facilities.

Conforming amendments to W.S. 18-9-201 and 18-9-202:

Clarifies that if a governing body appoints trustees, it may remove an appointed trustee for cause without a public hearing unless the trustee requests a public hearing.
Vacancies on appointed boards are to be filled by the appointing governing body for the unexpired term.
Trustees appointed under W.S. 18-9-201(a) generally must number not fewer than five and serve staggered terms per W.S. 18-9-102(a), except where the governing body itself serves as the board.
For joint recreation systems created by agreement, the board must have at least five members and each participating governing body must have at least one representative.
Makes explicit that liability of trustees is governed by existing statute (W.S. 1-23-107).

Effective date provision: July 1, 2025 (if enacted).

Who would be affected

Local governments (cities, towns, counties, school districts) that operate or participate in public recreation systems and playgrounds.

Existing or potential boards of trustees for recreation systems (appointment, removal, vacancy processes).

Residents and users of public recreation facilities to the extent governance or accountability changes affect operations.

Procedural / timeline notes

Assigned Dec 19, 2024; introduced Jan 15, 2025 and referred to committees (State Government, Corporations, later Judiciary).

Subcommittee review and committee recommended passage; placed on the Senate calendar.

Amendment S-3010 was filed (later withdrawn on 4/16/2025); the bill was attached/substituted to HF 472 at one point and then withdrawn.

Final status: Returned as died in committee pursuant to Senate Rule 5-4 (3/3/2025).

Bill