SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5500

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 11, 1993

Brief Description:  Requiring legislative authorization before disposing of certain state parks land.

SPONSORS: Senators Talmadge, Cantu, Fraser, Quigley and Deccio

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786‑7708)

Hearing Dates: February 12, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Under existing law, the State Parks and Recreation Commission is directed to work with the State Board of Natural Resources to acquire, for park and outdoor recreation purposes, various trust lands that are identified by statute.    

The commission is also authorized under existing law to dispose of lands under its control if it finds that any of these lands cannot be advantageously used for park purposes. 

In recent years, some state park transactions involving land exchanges and development proposals have generated public controversy. 

SUMMARY:

The State Parks and Recreation Commission shall obtain prior legislative authorization before disposing or exchanging state park land where the land to be disposed or exchanged is either greater than ten acres or more than 50 percent of the contiguous area of the state park lands. 

To the extent feasible, the full trust land parcels identified by statute for inclusion in the state park system shall be acquired by the commission for park purposes.   

The commission shall obtain express legislative authorization in the biennial capital budget for any substantial new development on park lands that have not previously been used for state park purposes. 

Appropriation: none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available