California Lawmakers Attempt To Speed Up Reopening Of Theme Parks

California lawmakers have introduced a bill that will allow large theme parks across the state to reopen sooner.

The bill places larger amusement parks like Disneyland, Magic Mountain, and Universal Studios on the same reopening timeline as the smaller parks.

The bill, Assembly Bill 420 was introduced by Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva.

With California's color-coded tier system, parks with a capacity under 15,000 can reopen when a region reaches the Orange tier, the moderate tier.

Currently, larger parks like Disneyland would have to wait until their region reached the Yellow tier or had minimal COVID-19 cases.

Large parks have been already been closed for close to 11 months.

Valladares and Quirk-Silva noted that large theme parks in other places have reopened including Disney World in Florida.

Their main argument is that California theme parks contribute a significant amount to the state's economy.

Theme parks generate $12.6 billion in direct and indirect revenue to the state government and paying $1.5 billion a year in federal, and state, and local taxes, according to ABC30.

"I think it can be done safely, and I think not only Disney, Magic Mountain, and other theme parks -- they're in the business to move people, to move them safely, and I think that it's the time to move down this pathway," said Quirk-Silva.

The California Attractions and Parks Association also backs the bill saying that the current state requirements will keep parks closed indefinitely.

"Nearly a year after parks closed in response to the pandemic, tens of thousands of employees remain out of work," said Erin Guerrero, executive director of the association. "...while local businesses, communities surrounding theme parks, and local governments face ongoing negative consequences."

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