VETO MESSAGE ON HB 2928-S

                        March 26, 1992

To the Honorable, the House

  of Representatives of the

  State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 19, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2928 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to open spaces."

      Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2928 modifies and improves the administration of open space taxation programs.  Section 19 requires the creation of an advisory committee to recommend changes to rules implementing open space taxation laws, including an expansion of land uses consistent with classification as farm and agricultural land open space.  The committee is to be composed of county assessors, agricultural and forestry interests, natural resource protection interests, and members of the public.  Although I concur with the need to involve affected parties in the implementation of state and local programs, I do not support such advisory committees being established by statute.  I encourage the Director of the Department of Revenue to use existing authority to establish a broad based open space advisory committee composed not only of the members identified in section 19, but additional members representing conservation interests.

      For this reason, I have vetoed section 19 of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2928.

      With the exception of section 19, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2928 is approved.

                        Respectfully submitted,

                        Booth Gardner

                        Governor