SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1569

BYHouse Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Belcher, Locke, Holland and Sayan)

Regarding forest protection.

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 30, 1989; March 31, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Saling, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Charles Langen (786-7715)

                  April 3, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 31, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides forest fire control to 12.5 million acres of forest land in the state.  Of the total, approximately 10.4 million acres is private land, and 2.1 million acres is state land.  DNR protects about half the forest land in the state; the remainder is protected by various federal agencies and rural fire districts. Fire control is divided into two programs: protection and suppression.

The protection program includes prevention, presuppression, and detection activities, including the purchase of equipment and hiring and training of fire fighters.  For the 1987-89 biennium, 62 percent of the protection program monies came from the state general fund, 33 percent from landowner assessments, and 5 percent from federal sources.  The landowner forest protection assessments are set by statute at 21 cents an acre each year in western Washington and 17 cents an acre each year in eastern Washington.

The suppression program includes the costs (such as crew, overtime, equipment rental, and supplies) associated with extinguishing forest fires.  Funding for suppression activities is determined by the cause of the fire.  Suppression costs for fires started by the general public or by lightning are paid from the state general fund.  Fires started as a result of a landowner operation are paid from the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.  Forest landowners pay an annual per acre assessment into the contingency account, the balance of which cannot exceed $2 million.  Current assessment rates are 8 cents an acre in western Washington and 4 cents an acre in eastern Washington.

SUMMARY:

Forest assessments for the forest fire protection program are increased to 22 cents an acre statewide.  In 1990, the minimum payment per parcel increases from $5.10 in eastern Washington and $6.30 in western Washington to $10 statewide.  In 1991, it increases to $14 a parcel.  Provisions are made to facilitate the task of the assessor in collecting the annual assessment on parcels smaller than 10 acres.  Landowners with two or more parcels in a county, each containing less than 50 acres, may obtain a refund on assessments paid if the total acreage in a county does not exceed 50 acres.

Beginning in 1991, the department may grant up to $200,000 a year of the forest assessment money to rural fire districts.  The money shall be used for assisting the department in fire protection services on forest lands.

The landowner contingency forest fire suppression account becomes a nonappropriated account.  Funds may be used to abate, isolate, or reduce extreme fire hazards.  Money recovered from a landowner for the costs of reducing the extreme fire hazard returns to the account.

The maximum fund balance may not exceed $3 million, a $1 million increase.

The DNR may borrow money at any time from any fund the State Treasurer deems appropriate in order to meet unbudgeted forest fire suppression expenses.  Any borrowed money must be repaid with interest.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: No one