Legislative purpose

In order to provide for the increasing outdoor recreation needs of an expanding population with an increasing amount of leisure time, in order to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoor areas of Georgia, and in order to provide for a healthful alternative to motorized travel, trails should be established in urban, suburban, rural, and wilderness areas of Georgia. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide for a Georgia Scenic Trails System. 107 12-3-111 CONSERVATION & NATURAL RES. 12-3-114 History. — Ga. L. 1972, p. 142, § 2. 12-3-112. ‘‘System’’ defined. As used in this article, the term ‘‘system’’ means the Georgia Scenic Trails System provided for in this article. History. — Ga. L. 1972, p. 142, § 3; Ga. L. 1975, p. 799, § 1. 12-3-113. Duties and powers of department as to system; requirements as to title to land traversed by system. The Department of Natural Resources shall have the responsibility of creating a Georgia Scenic Trails System. In carrying out such responsibilities, it shall be the duty of the department to identify and plan the system, to acquire or otherwise gain control over or rights to the use of the necessary land for the system, and to construct, manage, and maintain the system. For the purpose of carrying out its primary duties as provided in this article, the department shall be authorized to exercise any powers heretofore provided by law for the department, except for the powers of eminent domain. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute concerning the improvement of land held in fee simple by the State of Georgia, the department shall be authorized to expend state funds for construction, maintenance, and management of trails on lands acquired through purchase, easement, lease, or donation; provided, however, that no buildings shall be constructed on any real estate to which the State of Georgia does not hold title in fee simple, unless it is held under a quitclaim deed with a reversionary interest in the federal government or under a long-term federal license agreement with a reversionary interest in the federal government. History. — Ga. L. 1972, p. 142, § 4; Ga. L. 1972, p. 1015, § 1511; Ga. L. 1973, p. 1260, § 1.