FINAL BILL REPORT

                     SHB 2594

                            Synopsis as Enacted

                                 C 153 L 92

Brief Description:  Applying the state wildlife and recreation lands management act.

By House Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Fraser, Beck, Belcher, Brumsickle, Basich, Wynne and J. Kohl; by request of Interagency for Outdoor Recreation).

House Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Background:  Washington owns significant acreage of fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks and other recreation lands.  The state's natural resources agencies are responsible for management and maintenance of these lands and associated facilities, not only to provide for current use, but also to preserve the values associated with the lands that led to their initial acquisition.  Because of a historical pattern of limited funding for operations and maintenance needs, these agencies have often deferred routine maintenance.

The 1990 Legislature directed the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) to assess the operation and maintenance needs of state-owned habitat and natural areas, parks, and other state-owned recreational sites.  In its report, the IAC found that there are significant shortfalls in operation and maintenance funding.  A one-time catch-up expenditure of $39.5 million is required to repair facilities and roads, and to replace equipment which has exceeded its planned life cycle.  It also found that annual operation and maintenance funding should be increased by $10.9 million to prevent future backlogs from occurring, and to care properly for new lands acquired during the 1989-91 biennium.

Summary:  It is the policy of the state of Washington to provide adequate and continuing funding for operation and maintenance needs of state-owned fish and wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks, and other recreation lands in order to protect the state's investment in such lands.

The state wildlife and recreation lands management account is established to be used exclusively for operation and maintenance needs associated with managing state-owned habitat, natural areas, and recreation lands.  Legislative appropriation is required for expenditure from this account.

Monies appropriated from the account must be used for the following purposes and distributed according to the following percentages:

Basic stewardship - not less than 30 percent;

Improved or Developed Resources - not less than 20 percent;

Human Use Management - not less than 15 percent; and,

Administration - not more than 15 percent.

The individual agencies eligible for funding from this account are not required to meet this distribution; however, funding across agencies should meet these percentages during each biennium.

The agencies eligible to receive funds from the account include the departments of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Natural Resources, and the State Parks and Recreation Commission.  Monies appropriated from the account must be distributed to these agencies in the following manner:

Parks and Recreation Commission - not less than 25 percent;

Department of Natural Resources - not less than 25 percent;

Department of Wildlife - not less than 25 percent; and,

Department of Fisheries - no minimum specified.

A State Wildlife and Recreation Lands Management Task Force is created to develop recommendations regarding new long-term funding sources for the act. The task force must investigate opportunities for the use of future appropriations for habitat conservation and recreation in meeting major operations and maintenance funding needs. In addition, the task force must report on funding needed to assist counties in providing the local services needed to protect state-owned lands.  The task force is composed of seven voting members, appointed by the governor, plus five non-voting members representing the departments of Fisheries, Wildlife, Natural Resources, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Office of Financial Management.  The president of the Senate and the speaker of the House are each required to appoint one nonvoting member from each caucus of their respective legislative bodies to the task force.  The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation and Office of Financial Management are directed to provide staff and technical assistance to the task force.  A report and recommendations must be submitted to the governor and committees of the Legislature by September 15, 1992.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 93    0

   Senate   45    0     (Senate amended)

House 96    0     (House concurred)

Effective:     June 11, 1992