SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5309

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 16, 1993

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions relating to exchange of urban land for land bank land.

SPONSORS: Senator Owen

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Franklin, Haugen, Oke, and Snyder.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates: February 1, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Many state trust land parcels in urban and surrounding areas are not producing income for the trusts but are often uniquely suited for other public needs.  The land bank statute authorized the Department of Natural Resources to dispose of land and acquire replacement land.  DNR must notify state agencies and the counties, cities or towns in which the land is situated. Without any public agency as a buyer, the Department of Natural Resources sells the land at public auction. 

In 1992, the Legislature gave the department an additional land transfer and replacement authority which allows the department to transfer land to any public agency.  The department must notify as many public agencies, such as school districts and park districts, in addition to local governments, when it determines that land is to be sold or transferred.  The current land bank statute only infers that no public auction is required, it is not explicit.

SUMMARY:

The notice requirement is clarified and broadened to include the widest range of public agencies given a chance to purchase land.  Land transfers may be made to public agencies without public auction.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

All public agencies should be able to purchase excess public land.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Stan Biles and Bruce Mackey, Department of Natural Resources (pro)