FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5843

C 245 L 15

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning outdoor recreation.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Ranker, Parlette, Pearson, Rolfes, Hewitt, Litzow, Conway, Hasegawa and McAuliffe).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Environment

House Committee on General Government & Information Technology

Background: No Child Left Inside Grant Program. In 2007 the Legislature established a grant program to provide funding for outdoor education and recreation programs by agencies, nonprofits, and school and after-school programs. This program has become known as the no child left inside grant program. The Director of the State Parks and Recreation Commission, in cooperation with an advisory committee, was charged with establishing grant priorities while considering factors such as:

• reduction of dropout rates;

• use of natural-resources based curriculum;

• contribution to health lifestyles through recreation and nutrition; and

• ongoing program evaluation and assessment.

The 2007 operating budget provided $1.5 million to the grant program. In 2008, 26 grants were awarded from that appropriation.

Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation. In February 2014, the Governor issued Executive Order 14-01 which established the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation (Task Force). The Task Force was directed to develop an action plan and recommendations on topics to include the management, transformation, and development of Washington's outdoor recreation assets and programs. The Task Force met throughout the interim, with plans and recommendations submitted in the fall.

Summary: Modifies the No Child Left Inside Grant Program. The list of considerations that must be considered in setting priorities for the no child left inside grant program is changed to include programs that use veterans for at least 50 percent of program implementation or administration.

Establishes a State Lead on Economic Development and Outdoor Recreation. Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Governor must appoint and maintain a senior policy advisor to serve as the state's lead on economic development issues relating to outdoor recreation. The advisor must also focus on promoting, increasing participation in, and increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The success of the senior policy adviser must be based on measurable results relating to economic development strategies including the following:

• strategies for increasing the number of new jobs related to outdoor recreation; and

• strategies for increasing consumer spending connected to outdoor recreation.

Votes on Final Passage: