HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SSB 5516

BYSenate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn, Warnke, Johnson, Niemi, Bauer, Rasmussen and West)

Regarding the disabilities land trust.

House Committe on Capital Facilities & Financing

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives H. Sommers, Chair; Rasmussen, Vice Chair; Schoon, Ranking Republican Member; Beck, Bowman, Braddock, Fraser, Heavey, Jacobsen, Peery, Rector, Wang and Winsley.

House Staff:Bill Robinson (786-7140)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1874, a 374 acre parcel at Fort Steilacoom was donated to the Territory of Washington "for the use and purpose of an asylum for the insane of said territory and for no other purpose."  This land became the site of the territory's first mental institution -- Western State Hospital.

Since that time, the state has purchased or has been given thousands of acres of additional land for purposes related to the care of the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled and others.  The largest asset is 200,000 acres given to the state by the federal government at the time of statehood.  It is known as the Charitable, Educational, Penal and Reformatory Institution Trust.  Only 73,000 acres remain in the trust which is administered by the Department of Natural Resources.  These timber and farm lands presently generate some $2 million to $4 million per year which is used to finance various capital expenditures in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Corrections, community colleges and other agencies.  Other land is managed by DSHS, the Department of General Administration or the Department of Natural Resources.  DSHS alone owns 3,778 acres.  On some of the land, state hospitals, habilitation centers for the developmentally disabled and other DSHS facilities operate.  Hundreds of acres are unused, or are leased at nominal rents for parks, golf courses and other public purposes.

During its interim study on residential care for the mentally ill, the Committee on Health Care and Corrections learned that approximately 304 acres of the original land donation to the Territory of Washington for Western State Hospital was about to be given to Pierce County for use as a park.  The land has been leased to the county for that purpose for some time.

SUMMARY:

Every five years the Department of Social and Health Services and other agencies that operate state institutions must conduct an inventory of all lands acquired by the state for the benefit of disabled persons.  The inventory will be reported to the Legislature and any land identified as not needed for state provided care will be transferred to the charitable, educational, penal, and reform institution trust.  The Department of Natural Resources will manage the trust and adopt a plan for the management of the land in the trust.

Revenue:    The bill has a revenue impact.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Wojahn; Stacie Larson, Alliance for the Mentally ill; Thelma Struck, DSHS; Eleanor Owen, W/AMI; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Community Mental Health; Lloyd Nickel and Jan Wolcott, Pierce County Parks and Recreation (testified for the amended bill).

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The state must protect and properly manage the lands given to the state for the benefit of disabled and mentally ill persons.  There is a critical shortage of housing for mentally ill and disabled persons and income from the trust lands could provide needed housing.  There is confusion over the ownership of the Fort Steilacoom property; Pierce County claims ownership while others testified that the state has ownership.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 96; Nays 1 - 3/2

Voting Nay: Representative Walker