AN ACT Relating to winter recreation; adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 67.34 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 67.34.010, 67.34.020, 67.34.900, and 67.34.905; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that:

(1) Interest in outdoor recreation has been steadily increasing, and that the facilities that now exist are inadequate to meet the growing demands of the people of Washington and the out-of-state tourist trade;

(2) The state is becoming a popular winter recreation area and has not fully developed its winter tourism industry adequately to respond to the increasing demand, as has been successfully done in the mountain states, Idaho, and British Columbia;

(3) The state of Washington presently has a flourishing winter recreation industry which adds more than twenty-five thousand new skiers each year. Far greater potential exists for year-round resort development which should include an emphasis on all winter recreation activities. Expansion of the winter recreation industry will attract tourist trade from other states and countries and will have a substantial positive impact on both the state and national economies; and

(4) The economic well-being of the state will be improved upon the introduction of new industry to provide employment, income to the state, and revenue for government.

The legislature recognizes the need to identify areas appropriate for recreational development on state lands or on federal lands which can be exchanged for state lands under state and federal laws.

Therefore, the legislature hereby establishes the Washington state winter recreation commission which shall be composed as follows: Two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, including one member from each caucus; two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including one member from each caucus; one representative to be appointed by the governor from each of the following state departments: The parks and recreation commission, department of trade and economic development, and department of natural resources; two representatives of industry appointed by the governor; two representatives of the environmental community appointed by the governor; one representative of cities appointed by the governor; and one representative of counties appointed by the governor. The commission shall choose one of its legislative members as chair.

Commission members and legislative staff shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Members of the legislature serving on the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The Washington state winter recreation commission shall:

(1) Study and identify potential sites for new winter recreation development, with consideration of the availability and suitability of the land, local interests, environmental impact, and established roads and transportation access.

(2) Facilitate trades of land for existing or new winter recreation areas with the federal government, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Forest Service, the United States Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies which could be involved in exchanges of land.

(3) Recommend the supervisory management structure at the state level which would oversee the lease, maintenance, and development of lands for recreational projects.

(4) Utilize legislative staff assistance which shall be provided by the appropriate legislative committees and conduct such studies as are necessary for the performance of its duties. State agencies may assign to the commission such personnel as are necessary to assist the commission in the performance of its duties.

(5) Consult with federal and state agencies and representatives of science, industry, agriculture, labor, conservation organizations, state and local governments, concerned citizens, and other groups.

(6) Hold such public hearings as are necessary to insure early, meaningful, and continuous public input and involvement in the commission's work.

(7) Propose changes in state law and rules of state agencies, if considered necessary, to carry out the purpose of this chapter.

(8) Establish advisory committees to advise the commission in the performance of its duties. The membership of the advisory committees shall be balanced in terms of the points of view and interests represented. Members of the advisory committees shall serve without compensation of any sort.

(9) Submit a biennial report to the legislature beginning in 1989 on the progress of the commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commission created under section 1 of this act shall be considered a continuation of the prior commission, and members of the prior commission shall continue to be members of the new commission except that the legislative membership of the commission shall be subject to reappointment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The legislature recognizes that winter recreational activities are part of the folk tradition of the state of Washington. Winter recreational activities serve to turn the darkness of a northwest winter into the dawn of renewed vitality. As the winter snows dissolve into the torrents of spring, the Columbia river is nourished. The Columbia river is the pride of the northwest and the unifying geographic element of the state. In order to celebrate the river which ties the winter recreation playground of snowcapped mountains and the Yakima, Snake, and the Klickitat rivers to the ocean so blue, the legislature declares that the official state folk song is "Roll On Columbia, Roll On," composed by Woody Guthrie.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) Section 1, chapter 27, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess., section 68, chapter 466, Laws of 1985 and RCW 67.34.010;

(2) Section 2, chapter 27, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 67.34.020;

(3) Section 3, chapter 27, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 67.34.900; and

(4) Section 4, chapter 27, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 67.34.905.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 67.34 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.