HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1368

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to local assessments against public lands used for wildlife conservation and recreational purposes.

Brief Description:  Placing conditions on local improvement district assessments against department of wildlife land.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Haugen, R. King, H. Sommers, Prince, Silver, Morris, Wood, Moyer and Miller; by request of Department of Wildlife.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, March 6, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1368 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Minority Member; Mitchell, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bray; Edmondson; Franklin; Horn; Nealey; Nelson; Rayburn; Roland; Wood; Wynne; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Counties are authorized to create lake management districts to finance various lake improvement purposes.  A lake management district is created, if effected property owners vote to authorize its creation.  Property owners are given one vote for each dollar of proposed assessment or rates and charges that the district will impose.  If authorized, a lake management district exists for 10 years and imposes assessments or rates and charges to finance its activities.  Public property, including property owned by the Department of Wildlife, is subject to the assessments or rates and charges.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Wildlife shall not be subject to lake management district assessments or rates and charges that are measured on the basis of the number of boat launchings.  Lake front lands subject to the control of the department shall be subject to the same measure of assessments or rates and charges, or class of assessments or rates and charges, that are imposed by a lake management district on privately owned lake front property.  These restrictions apply to lake management districts authorized or re-authorized after the effective date of this act.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute contains completely new language.  All the original sections amending a variety of laws providing for local improvement district assessments, other assessments, and rates or charges are deleted from the bill.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (original bill): The department is primarily supported by hunting and fishing user fees, yet is being asked to fund a major portion of lake improvements.  Failing septic tanks and lawn fertilizing are the major causes of the lake problems.

Testimony Against:  (original bill):  The department is charged on the basis on the annual number of boat launchings from its property.  These boats are the major source of milfoil that is clogging our lakes.  These are fair charges.

Witnesses:  (Pro - original bill):  Pam Madsen, Department of Wildlife.  (Con - original bill):  David Yates, individual; Tom Clingman, Lakes Program Manager, Thurston County; Kathy Adams, Washington State Lakes Protection Lakes Improvement; and Wally Kydland, lake side property owner.