H-1811.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2142
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State of Washington 56th Legislature 1999 Regular Session
By Representatives Sump, Buck and Schoesler
Read first time 02/16/1999. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to directing the legislature to conduct an audit of the department of natural resources; creating new sections; making appropriations; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The department of natural resources manages approximately three million acres of state trust land for the benefit of: Public common schools; Washington State University; the University of Washington; Western, Central, and Eastern Washington Universities; The Evergreen State College; community colleges; county governments; various state institutions; and the state capitol campus.
Revenues generated from uses of the trust lands, most importantly timber sales, but also agricultural, commercial, and mineral leases, provide an important source of income for the construction and maintenance of the state's public schools.
Over the past decade, the revenue from the trust lands has provided a continually diminishing percentage of the funds used to construct this state's public schools. The legislature must review all options to increase revenues produced by state trust lands and must find more efficient methods of managing trust lands.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A joint legislative task force is created. The task force shall consist of: One representative from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, appointed by the co-chairs; and one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, selected by the president of the senate. The task force shall be staffed by the office of program research and senate committee services.
(2) The joint legislative task force shall direct a financial audit of the department of natural resources and shall ensure that the audit focuses upon the department's management of state trust lands.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the senate for the purpose of preparing the audit report of the department of natural resources.
(2) The sum of one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the house of representatives for the purpose of preparing the audit report of the department of natural resources.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The task force shall prepare and submit to the legislature, by January 15, 2000, a report of its findings and recommendations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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