HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2568

BYRepresentatives Belcher, Beck, Locke, Brooks, Cole, R. King, Miller, Sayan, K. Wilson, Haugen, Holland, Dellwo, Rector, Brough, P. King, Valle, Jacobsen, G. Fisher, Basich, O'Brien, Spanel, Fraser, Wood, Winsley, Ferguson, Todd, Inslee, Rasmussen, R. Fisher, Sprenkle, Day and Brekke; by request of Governor Gardner

Funding the acquisition of land for wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation.

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Belcher, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Brumsickle, Dellwo, Hargrove, H. Myers, Raiter and Sayan.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Fuhrman.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS JANUARY 29, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Since 1963 state sales of bonds for recreation purposes total $113 million.  The authority for these bonds has expired.  On-going state funding sources are Initiative 215 and the All-Terrain Vehicle Act.  Initiative 215 allows the state to use the non-refunded portion of the boat fuel excise tax for boater recreation.  This amounted to $1.8 million in 1988.  The All-Terrain Vehicle Act designates one percent of the motor fuel excise tax to be used for non-highway and off road vehicle activities (NOVA).  The NOVA program received about $3.5 million in 1989.

Federal funds for general recreation have declined sharply in the past decade. Washington's share of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, based on proceeds of federal oil and gas leases, declined from $3.5 million in 1979 to $167,000 in 1988.

Because of the dwindling funds and increasing pressure to provide outdoor recreation and protect wildlife habitat, the Wildlife and Recreation Coalition was formed.  During 1989, the public and local and state agencies identified over 400 projects to the coalition.

The coalition proposes to fund these projects through a $450 million bond program, with bond sales scheduled over a 10 year period.  The governor's proposed appropriation is $45 million during this biennium and an additional $45 million in the next biennium.  Each proposal requires approval of the Legislature.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) receives authority to expend $62 million, equally distributed between the existing Outdoor Recreation Account and the newly created Habitat Conservation Account.  The source of the funds is not specified.  Up to $5 million per biennium may be spent from each account for emergency acquisitions.

The Habitat Conservation Account funds shall be distributed for acquisition purposes as follows:  critical habitat, not less than 35 percent; natural areas, not less than 20 percent; urban wildlife habitat, not less than 15 percent.  The remaining 30 percent is available for allocation among the three categories.  Only state agencies may apply for critical area or natural areas acquisition and development.  State and local agencies may apply for urban wildlife habitat projects.

The funds expended by the Outdoor Recreation Account shall be distributed for acquisition and development as follows:  state parks, not less than 25 percent; local parks, not less than 25 percent; trails, not less than 15 percent; water access sites, not less than 10 percent.  The remaining 25 percent is available for allocation among the four categories.  Both state and local agencies may compete for trail and water access funds.

All local projects require at least 50 percent matching money.  Applications must identify any restrictions that will apply to on-site recreation.  All sites will be open to the public without discrimination.

No state money may be used to acquire land through condemnation.  All applications must contain a letter of support from the local governing body.

For acquiring habitat, trails, and water access, criterion that must be considered are identified.  IAC may adopt rules that include other criterion.

The Legislature must authorize expenditures from the accounts through the capital budget procedure.  IAC will submit to the governor a prioritized list of state and local projects.  The governor may remove projects from the list and shall submit a list of projects to the Legislature for approval.  If the governor removes a project from the list, IAC shall submit a new project or projects to replace it.  The Legislature may only remove projects from the list.

For the current biennium the IAC will submit a list of projects to the governor by March 31, 1990.  The governor may remove projects from the list and shall approve those remaining by April 15, 1990. IAC shall offer a replacement project for any the governor removes.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Amending language includes a non-discrimination clause, a requirement that applications identify any restrictions that will apply to on-site activities and increase the first year's authorized expenditures from $45 million to $62 million.  The Senate added the same amendments to the companion legislation.

The process for submitting projects to the governor is amended to require that if the governor removes a project from the list submitted by IAC, the IAC will add a replacement project.  Also, all project applications must contain a letter of support from the local governing body.

Appropriation:    $62 million is appropriated to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 23, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Elliot Marts, Nature Conservancy; Jane Boubel, Olympia Parks and Recreation Department; Jo Roberts, Mountaineers; Jim King, Washington State Sportsmens Council; Congressman Lowry; Russ Cahill; Tom Shoemaker; National Audubon Society; Stan Finkelstien, Association of Washington Cities; J.K. Johnson, Washington Muzzleloaders; Fred Wert, Rails to Trails.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Outdoor recreation in the state faces mounting pressures as 750,000 new people will move to Washington in the next decade.  We need to take steps now in order to retain for our children the opportunity to enjoy the resources we enjoy.  Already 30 endangered animal species are at risk and 17 once endangered species have become extinct.  Beneficiaries of the funding package will include not only the wildlife, but people who visit local parks and playfields.  Support for the proposal comes from throughout the state; if the bill fails then an initiative will be prepared.  Several people indicated support for the three Senate amendments adopted.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.