Park fee hike gets first Senate OK

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Senate gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that could double state park fees and add extra fees for electrical hookups and use of showers.

Supporters say the increase is necessary because state parks lag behind other parks in basic design, lacking services including gravel paths and fire rings. They also say a fee increase would help the parks pay their own way rather than drawing more money from the state general fund.

Milward Simpson, director of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, said Wyoming state parks offer the lowest usage fees of any state parks in the nation.

He said the fee increase is long overdue.

Opponents of the proposal say the state shouldn't force residents to pay more to get into parks owned and operated by the state.

House Bill 10 will need two more Senate votes, the House's approval of amendments and the governor's signature before becoming law.

DNA evidence bill advances in House

CHEYENNE - The House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would allow some prison inmates to seek DNA testing that could prove their innocence.

The bill, Senate File 65, would allow convicted prison inmates to apply for a DNA test that they reasonably believe could exonerate them in cases where there is a multiple rape or the punishment is the death penalty.

Wyoming statute currently allows inmates to be exonerated with a governor's pardon.

The bill would also mandate that the DNA be kept on file for at least five years.

The bill will need to pass two more House votes and gain the Senate's approval of amendments before heading to the governor's desk.