FINAL BILL REPORT

                            SB 6080

                          C 280 L 94

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Prohibiting wrongful property damage to agricultural and forest lands.

SPONSORS: Senators Owen, Oke, Hargrove, Amondson, Haugen, Snyder, Morton, M. Rasmussen and Roach

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

BACKGROUND:

The incidence of property trespass and vandalism is increasing on forest and agricultural lands.  In 1993 legislation was passed to establish liability for damages to Department of Natural Resources lands, to be compensated at treble damages.  Currently, no similar provisions for private lands exist. 

SUMMARY:

Every person who wrongfully causes waste or injury to the land of another, or injures personal property or improvements to the land is liable to the injured party for treble the amount of damages caused by the use.  Damages may include damages for the market value of the property removed or injured, and damages for injury to the land, including the costs of restoration.  The person is also liable for reimbursing the injured party for the party's reasonable investigative and litigation-related costs.

Provisions for liability for damages to public lands are amended to include damages to public property and improvements as well as public lands.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    44   2

House     91   4    (House amended)

Senate    45   1    (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1994