BILL REQ. #:  S-4074.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/19/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a work group to make recommendations to improve trail interactions in Washington state; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that trail-based recreational opportunities provide important health, aesthetic, cultural, social, and economic opportunities for the people of Washington state. As the population of Washington state has grown and new forms of trail-based recreation have emerged, interactions among individual trail users and user groups have increased. The legislature intends to create a work group to examine and make recommendations to improve trail access and interactions in the state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The Washington state trail interactions work group is established.
     (2) The work group must consist of appropriate and balanced representation from:
     (a) Nonmotorized recreation associations and organizations;
     (b) Motorized recreation associations and organizations;
     (c) Landowners and managers, including private landowners, local governments, state and federal agencies, and tribal governments; and
     (d) Associations and organizations representing individuals employed or volunteering in the parks and recreation services field.
     (3) The work group must examine trail interactions in Washington state, including backcountry, rural, and urban trail interactions, and make recommendations to improve such interactions, which must include recommendations relating to: Trail access; the accessibility of online trail-based information; signage; and trail enjoyment and safety.
     (4) The work group shall hold meetings at diverse locations throughout the state to ensure that key stakeholders, citizens, and local jurisdictions from across the state have the opportunity to provide input.
     (5) The work group must provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature containing its recommendations by December 1, 2010.
     (6) The work group must be staffed by the recreation and conservation office. The director of the recreation and conservation office shall appoint members to the work group.
     (7) Work group members that are not employees of state or federal agencies are entitled to receive reimbursement for travel expenses as provided by RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (8) This section expires June 30, 2011.