HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1769

                       As Passed House

                       March 11, 1993

Title:  An act relating to recreational trails.

Brief Description:  Expanding the authority of the interagency committee for outdoor recreation regarding recreational trails.

Sponsors:  Representatives Linville, R. Johnson, Dunshee, Wolfe, Pruitt, Rust, Karahalios, Stevens, Schoesler, Jacobsen, Basich and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Natural Resources & Parks, February 26, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, March 11, 1993, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Pruitt, Chair; R. Johnson, Vice Chair; Morton, Ranking Minority Member; Stevens, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dunshee; Linville; Schoesler; Sheldon; Thomas; Valle; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  In 1970, the Legislature established the concept of a state recreational trails system.  The Legislature delegated the responsibility for preparation of a state trails plan to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC).

Under current law, the IAC is authorized and encouraged to cooperate with several entities to see if abandoned roadways, utility rights-of-way, and other properties are suitable and available for inclusion in the state trail system.  The IAC is encouraged to consult and cooperate with federal, state, and local government agencies, with private landowners, and with privately owned utilities.

Summary of Bill:  In addition to the entities identified above, the IAC is also expressly authorized and encouraged to consult with special districts identified in Chapter 85.38 RCW.  These special districts include diking and drainage districts of various forms, and flood control districts.  In addition to abandoned roadways and utility rights-of-way, the IAC is also to consider the use of dikes and levees for inclusion in the state trails system.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Trails along dikes provide year-round public access, are low cost because the dikes are already there, and can be made accessible to the handicapped.  This proposal is consistent with the recommendations made by the Joint Select Committee on Flood Damage Reduction.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Richard Grovt, Department of Ecology; and Joe Ganim, Rails to Trails Conservancy (both in favor).