HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1411

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                  Natural Resources & Parks

Title:  An act relating to metropolitan park districts.

Brief Description:  Allowing metropolitan park districts to acquire open space, land, or rights to future development.

Sponsors:  Representatives Pruitt, Morton, R. Johnson, Brown and Brough.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Natural Resources & Parks, February 17, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Pruitt, Chair; R. Johnson, Vice Chair; Dunshee; Linville; Schoesler; Sheldon; Thomas; Valle; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Morton, Ranking Minority Member and Stevens, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  In 1971, the Legislature authorized certain entities to participate in "conservation futures" programs.  Under these programs, an entity may purchase development rights or make other contractual agreements with a property owner of select open space land, farm land, or timber land.  The purpose of purchasing the development rights or making other contractual arrangements is to preserve these open spaces or areas from future development.  Under current law, the following entities are authorized to participate in conservation futures programs:  counties, cities, towns, metropolitan municipal corporations, nonprofit historic preservation corporations, and nonprofit nature conservancy corporations or associations.

Summary of Bill:  Metropolitan park districts are added to the list of entities authorized to participate in conservation futures programs.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The one metropolitan park district would like to be participating as part of a county's conservation futures program.  The district is precluded from doing so because these park districts are not currently listed in the statute.  Passing this legislation would allow the district to participate in this worthwhile program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jim Montgomerie, Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma (pro).