S-1961               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5999

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senator Owen

Read first time 2/26/87 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to department of game property management; amending RCW 77.12.210; and adding a new section to chapter 79.14 RCW.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 77.12.210, chapter 36, Laws of 1955 as last amended by section 38, chapter 78, Laws of 1980 and RCW 77.12.210 are each amended to read as follows:

          The commission shall maintain and manage real or personal property owned, leased, or held by the department and shall control the construction of buildings, structures, and improvements in or on the property.  The commission may adopt rules for the operation, maintenance, and use of and conduct on the property.

          The commission may sell timber, gravel, sand, and other materials or products from real property held by the department.  The commission may sell or lease the departments' real or personal property or grant concessions or rights of way for roads or utilities in the property.

The commission is exclusively authorized to negotiate and enter into leases of real property of the department for the purpose of exploring, testing for, locating, mining and drilling, the extraction of and pumping of all minerals in place of whatever kind or nature, including oil, gas, and other hydrocarbon substances.  Revenues generated from such leases shall be deposited in the game fund.

          If the commission determines that real or personal property held by the department cannot be used advantageously by the department, the commission may dispose of that property if it is in the public interest.

          If the state acquired real property with use limited to specific purposes, the director may negotiate terms for the return of the property to the donor or grantor.  Other real property shall be sold to the highest bidder at public auction.  After appraisal, notice of the auction shall be published at least once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county where the property is located at least twenty days prior to sale.

           Proceeds from the sales shall be deposited in the state treasury to be credited to the state game fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 79.14 RCW to read as follows:

          This chapter does not apply to leases of real property owned by the department of game.]