The Legislature's Budget Conference Committee – which has been charged with filling the $6 billion gap in state revenues – yesterday approved a proposal to eliminate General Fund budgeting for California State Parks. At the same time, the committee also voted to institute a surcharge on vehicle license fee of $15 on all non-commercial vehicles that would provide revenue for the park system and give vehicle drivers free day-use access to State Parks. This proposal has a long way to go before being approved by the Legislature and being signed into law, but it does offer some hope for a state park system threatened with massive closures. The San Jose Mercury News has more on the deal here.