SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5911

BYSenators Amondson, Stratton, Hayner, Owen, McDonald, Newhouse, Anderson, Matson, Johnson, Smith, Lee, Bailey, Cantu, Thorsness, Patterson, Benitz, Nelson, Saling, Sellar, Craswell, Barr, McCaslin, Conner, Rasmussen, DeJarnatt and Bauer

Providing for the sale of state timber.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 28, 1989; March 1, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5911 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Cantu, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Newhouse, Owen, Saling, Smith, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Ken Kanikeberg (786-7715)

                  March 2, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A portion of common school trust fund lands are located on the Olympic Peninsula.  About two-thirds of such lands have been logged.  On the remainder, the Department of Wildlife has notified the Department of Natural Resources of concern about spotted owl habitat and the need to preserve old growth timber.

Some of these lands had been scheduled to be cut in 1988 and 1989 and are now delayed.  The Commissioner of Public lands has appointed an "Old Growth Alternatives Commission" to study the matter and make recommendations.  The report is due in June 1989.

SUMMARY:

All timber not harvested from state public lands currently designated as spotted owl habitat shall be immediately available for sale.

Proceeds from the sale are required to be deposited in an account designated as the "special school construction account."  Revenues from the account shall be distributed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for school construction.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The requirement that all timber not harvested from state public lands currently designated as spotted owl habitat be immediately available for sale is removed.  The timber shall be available for sale within guidelines that do not conflict with the economic interests of the granted trust.

The language creating the "special school construction account" is deleted.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      requested February 17, 1989

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: PRO:  Charles TenPas, Superintendent, White Pass School District; Ann Goos, concerned citizen; Dr. William Boulton, Superintendent Mount Baker School District; Heidi Mezo, concerned citizen; Theresa Sygitowitz, concerned citizen; Ellen Bickell, concerned citizen; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association; CON:  Marcy Golde, WEC; Mark Lawler, Sierra Club; Dan Vanderkolk, concerned citizen; Ken Richards, concerned citizen; Steve Herman, Ornithologist, The Evergreen State College; Steve Bono, concerned citizen; Ron Barnes, concerned citizen