{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/10.1-204.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/10.1-204.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/10.1-204.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/10.1-204.1.html"}],"law_id":56839,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56839,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-204.1","catch_line":"(Expires January 1, 2027) State Trails Advisory Committee established; report","history":"2015, c. 461; 2020, cc. 314, 958.","full_text":"A\n\nThe State Trails Advisory Committee (the Committee) is hereby established as an advisory committee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to assist the Commonwealth in developing and implementing a statewide system of attractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails for the perpetual use and enjoyment of the citizens of the Commonwealth and future generations. The Committee shall be appointed by the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and shall be composed of a representative from the Department of Wildlife Resources, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. National Park Service; the Virginia Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and nonlegislative citizen members, including representatives from the Virginia Outdoors Plan Technical Advisory Committee and the Recreational Trails Advisory Committee and other individuals with technical expertise in trail creation, construction, maintenance, use, and management. The Committee shall meet at least twice each calendar year.B\n\nThe Advisory Committee shall examine and provide recommendations regarding (i) options to close the gaps in a statewide system of trails as described in &#xA7; 10.1-204; (ii) creative public and private funding strategies and partnerships to leverage resources to fund the development of trails; (iii) integrated approaches to promote and market trail values and benefits; (iv) the development of specialty trails, including concepts related to old-growth forest trails across the Commonwealth; (v) strategies to encourage and create linkages between communities and open space; (vi) strategies to foster communication and networking among trail stakeholders; (vii) strategies to increase tourism and commercial activities associated with a statewide trail system; (viii) strategies to enhance the involvement of organizations that promote outdoor youth activities, including the Boy Scouts of the U.S.A. and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and the 4-H program of the Virginia Cooperative Extension; and (ix) other practices, standards, statutes, and guidelines that the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation determines may enhance the effectiveness of trail planning across the Commonwealth, including methods for receiving input regarding potential trail impacts upon owners of underlying or neighboring properties.C\n\nNo later than October 1 of each year, the Director shall provide a status report on the work of the Committee to the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; and the Chairman and members of the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The report shall include (i) current and future plans for a statewide system of attractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails across the Commonwealth and (ii) any recommendations from the Committee that will be incorporated into the Virginia Outdoors Plan, which plan shall serve as the repository for recommendations from the Committee. The Virginia Outdoors Plan updates shall be used to capture and advance the concepts developed by the Committee.D\n\nMembers of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their service and shall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.E\n\nFor the purposes of this section, &#8220;old-growth forest&#8221; means a forest ecosystem distinguished by trees older than 150 years and tree-related structures that naturally contribute to biodiversity of the forested ecosystems and provide habitat to native Virginia wildlife species, including wildlife species that have been approved for introduction by the Department of Wildlife Resources.F\n\nThe provisions of this section shall expire on January 1, 2027.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":208206,"text":"The State Trails Advisory Committee (the Committee) is hereby established as an advisory committee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to assist the Commonwealth in developing and implementing a statewide system of attractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails for the perpetual use and enjoyment of the citizens of the Commonwealth and future generations. The Committee shall be appointed by the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and shall be composed of a representative from the Department of Wildlife Resources, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. National Park Service; the Virginia Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and nonlegislative citizen members, including representatives from the Virginia Outdoors Plan Technical Advisory Committee and the Recreational Trails Advisory Committee and other individuals with technical expertise in trail creation, construction, maintenance, use, and management. The Committee shall meet at least twice each calendar year.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":208207,"text":"The Advisory Committee shall examine and provide recommendations regarding (i) options to close the gaps in a statewide system of trails as described in &#xA7; 10.1-204; (ii) creative public and private funding strategies and partnerships to leverage resources to fund the development of trails; (iii) integrated approaches to promote and market trail values and benefits; (iv) the development of specialty trails, including concepts related to old-growth forest trails across the Commonwealth; (v) strategies to encourage and create linkages between communities and open space; (vi) strategies to foster communication and networking among trail stakeholders; (vii) strategies to increase tourism and commercial activities associated with a statewide trail system; (viii) strategies to enhance the involvement of organizations that promote outdoor youth activities, including the Boy Scouts of the U.S.A. and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and the 4-H program of the Virginia Cooperative Extension; and (ix) other practices, standards, statutes, and guidelines that the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation determines may enhance the effectiveness of trail planning across the Commonwealth, including methods for receiving input regarding potential trail impacts upon owners of underlying or neighboring properties.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":208208,"text":"No later than October 1 of each year, the Director shall provide a status report on the work of the Committee to the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; and the Chairman and members of the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The report shall include (i) current and future plans for a statewide system of attractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails across the Commonwealth and (ii) any recommendations from the Committee that will be incorporated into the Virginia Outdoors Plan, which plan shall serve as the repository for recommendations from the Committee. The Virginia Outdoors Plan updates shall be used to capture and advance the concepts developed by the Committee.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":208209,"text":"Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their service and shall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":208210,"text":"For the purposes of this section, &#8220;old-growth forest&#8221; means a forest ecosystem distinguished by trees older than 150 years and tree-related structures that naturally contribute to biodiversity of the forested ecosystems and provide habitat to native Virginia wildlife species, including wildlife species that have been approved for introduction by the Department of Wildlife Resources.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":208211,"text":"The provisions of this section shall expire on January 1, 2027.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14736,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Parks","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14710,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:37","permalink":{"id":143615,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14736,"identifier":"1","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14710,"edition_id":1,"name":"Parks and Recreation","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12893,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:27","permalink":{"id":143613,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14710,"identifier":"2","token":"10.1\/I\/2","url":"\/10.1\/I\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12893,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12740,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":143315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12893,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12740,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":143313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12740,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60384,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200","catch_line":"Duties related to parks and outdoor recreation; additional powers","url":"\/10.1-200\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200","metadata":false},{"id":56518,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.01","catch_line":"Lyme disease signage","url":"\/10.1-200.01\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.01","metadata":false},{"id":82737,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.1","catch_line":"State park master planning","url":"\/10.1-200.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.1","metadata":false},{"id":65516,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.2","catch_line":"Littering in state parks; civil penalty","url":"\/10.1-200.2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.2","metadata":false},{"id":64528,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-200.3","catch_line":"Admittance and parking in state parks; prohibitions; civil penalty","url":"\/10.1-200.3\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-200.3","metadata":false},{"id":80467,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-201","catch_line":"Acquisition of lands of scenic beauty, recreational utility or historical interest","url":"\/10.1-201\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-201","metadata":false},{"id":56447,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202","catch_line":"Gifts, funds, and fees designated for state parks; establishment of funds","url":"\/10.1-202\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202","metadata":false},{"id":58975,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202.1","catch_line":"Golden Passport established; free entry into state parks","url":"\/10.1-202.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202.1","metadata":false},{"id":71638,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202.2","catch_line":"Disabled Veteran's Passport established; free entry into state parks and discounted services","url":"\/10.1-202.2\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202.2","metadata":false},{"id":67571,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-202.3","catch_line":"Virginia National Guard Passport established; free entry into and parking at state parks","url":"\/10.1-202.3\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-202.3","metadata":false},{"id":64297,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-203","catch_line":"Establishment, protection and maintenance of Appalachian Trail","url":"\/10.1-203\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-203","metadata":false},{"id":87016,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-204","catch_line":"Statewide system of trails","url":"\/10.1-204\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204","metadata":false},{"id":56839,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-204.1","catch_line":"(Expires January 1, 2027) State Trails Advisory Committee established; report","url":"\/10.1-204.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204.1","metadata":false},{"id":80845,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-205","catch_line":"Management of False Cape State Park","url":"\/10.1-205\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-205","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":87016,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-204","catch_line":"Statewide system of trails","url":"\/10.1-204\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80845,"structure_id":14736,"section_number":"10.1-205","catch_line":"Management of False Cape State Park","url":"\/10.1-205\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-205","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-204.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2015. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?151+ful+CHAP0461\">461<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2020, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP0314\">314<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP0958\">958<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":87016,"section_number":"10.1-204","catch_line":"Statewide system of trails","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-204\/"}],"permalink":{"id":143665,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56839,"identifier":"10.1-204.1","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204.1","url":"\/10.1-204.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-204.1\/","token":"10.1\/I\/2\/1\/10.1-204.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"(Expires January 1, 2027) State Trails Advisory Committee established; report","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-204.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> The State Trails Advisory Committee (the Committee) is hereby established as an advisory committee of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Conservation and Recreation to assist the Commonwealth in developing and implementing a statewide system of attractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails for the perpetual use and enjoyment of the citizens of the Commonwealth and future generations. The Committee shall be appointed by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Director<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Conservation and Recreation and shall be composed of a representative from the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Wildlife Resources, the Virginia <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Transportation, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. National Park Service; the Virginia <span class=\"dictionary\">Director<\/span> of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and nonlegislative citizen members, including representatives from the Virginia Outdoors Plan Technical Advisory Committee and the Recreational Trails Advisory Committee and other individuals with technical expertise in trail creation, construction, maintenance, use, and management. The Committee shall meet at least twice each calendar year. <a id=\"paragraph-208206\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/10.1-204.1\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> The Advisory Committee shall examine and provide recommendations regarding (i) options to close the gaps in a statewide system of trails as described in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Statewide system of trails\" href=\"\/10.1-204\/\">10.1-204<\/a>; (ii) creative public and private funding strategies and partnerships to leverage resources to fund the development of trails; (iii) integrated approaches to promote and market trail values and benefits; (iv) the development of specialty trails, including concepts related to <span class=\"dictionary\">old-growth forest<\/span> trails across the Commonwealth; (v) strategies to encourage and create linkages between communities and open space; (vi) strategies to foster communication and networking among trail stakeholders; (vii) strategies to increase tourism and commercial activities associated with a statewide trail system; (viii) strategies to enhance the involvement of organizations that promote outdoor youth activities, including the Boy Scouts of the U.S.A. and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and the 4-H program of the Virginia Cooperative Extension; and (ix) other practices, standards, <span class=\"dictionary\">statutes<\/span>, and guidelines that the <span class=\"dictionary\">Director<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Conservation and Recreation determines may enhance the effectiveness of trail planning across the Commonwealth, including methods for receiving input regarding potential trail impacts upon owners of underlying or neighboring properties. <a id=\"paragraph-208207\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/10.1-204.1\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> No later than October 1 of each year, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Director<\/span> shall provide a status report on the work of the Committee to the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; and the Chairman and members of the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The report shall include (i) current and future plans for a statewide system of attractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails across the Commonwealth and (ii) any recommendations from the Committee that will be incorporated into the Virginia Outdoors Plan, which plan shall serve as the repository for recommendations from the Committee. The Virginia Outdoors Plan updates shall be used to capture and advance the concepts developed by the Committee. <a id=\"paragraph-208208\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/10.1-204.1\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their service and shall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. <a id=\"paragraph-208209\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/10.1-204.1\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">old-growth forest<\/span>&#8221; means a forest ecosystem distinguished by trees older than 150 years and tree-related structures that naturally contribute to biodiversity of the forested ecosystems and provide habitat to native Virginia wildlife species, including wildlife species that have been approved for introduction by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Wildlife Resources. <a id=\"paragraph-208210\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/10.1-204.1\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"F\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">F.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall expire on January 1, 2027. <a id=\"paragraph-208211\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/10.1-204.1\/#F\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n(EXPIRES JANUARY 1, 2027) STATE TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED; REPORT\n(\u00a7 10.1-204.1)\n\nA. The State Trails Advisory Committee (the Committee) is hereby established as\nan advisory committee of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to assist\nthe Commonwealth in developing and implementing a statewide system of\nattractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails for the perpetual use\nand enjoyment of the citizens of the Commonwealth and future generations. The\nCommittee shall be appointed by the Director of the Department of Conservation\nand Recreation and shall be composed of a representative from the Department of\nWildlife Resources, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia\nOutdoors Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. National Park\nService; the Virginia Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and\nnonlegislative citizen members, including representatives from the Virginia\nOutdoors Plan Technical Advisory Committee and the Recreational Trails Advisory\nCommittee and other individuals with technical expertise in trail creation,\nconstruction, maintenance, use, and management. The Committee shall meet at\nleast twice each calendar year.\n\nB. The Advisory Committee shall examine and provide recommendations regarding\n(i) options to close the gaps in a statewide system of trails as described in\n&#xA7; 10.1-204; (ii) creative public and private funding strategies and\npartnerships to leverage resources to fund the development of trails; (iii)\nintegrated approaches to promote and market trail values and benefits; (iv) the\ndevelopment of specialty trails, including concepts related to old-growth forest\ntrails across the Commonwealth; (v) strategies to encourage and create linkages\nbetween communities and open space; (vi) strategies to foster communication and\nnetworking among trail stakeholders; (vii) strategies to increase tourism and\ncommercial activities associated with a statewide trail system; (viii)\nstrategies to enhance the involvement of organizations that promote outdoor\nyouth activities, including the Boy Scouts of the U.S.A. and Girl Scouts of the\nU.S.A. and the 4-H program of the Virginia Cooperative Extension; and (ix) other\npractices, standards, statutes, and guidelines that the Director of the\nDepartment of Conservation and Recreation determines may enhance the\neffectiveness of trail planning across the Commonwealth, including methods for\nreceiving input regarding potential trail impacts upon owners of underlying or\nneighboring properties.\n\nC. No later than October 1 of each year, the Director shall provide a status\nreport on the work of the Committee to the Chairman of the House Committee on\nAgriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; the Chairman of the Senate\nCommittee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; and the Chairman\nand members of the Virginia delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The\nreport shall include (i) current and future plans for a statewide system of\nattractive, sustainable, connected, and enduring trails across the Commonwealth\nand (ii) any recommendations from the Committee that will be incorporated into\nthe Virginia Outdoors Plan, which plan shall serve as the repository for\nrecommendations from the Committee. The Virginia Outdoors Plan updates shall be\nused to capture and advance the concepts developed by the Committee.\n\nD. Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their service and\nshall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance\nof their duties.\n\nE. For the purposes of this section, &#8220;old-growth forest&#8221; means a\nforest ecosystem distinguished by trees older than 150 years and tree-related\nstructures that naturally contribute to biodiversity of the forested ecosystems\nand provide habitat to native Virginia wildlife species, including wildlife\nspecies that have been approved for introduction by the Department of Wildlife\nResources.\n\nF. The provisions of this section shall expire on January 1, 2027.\n\nHISTORY: 2015, c. 461; 2020, cc. 314, 958.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}