SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6556

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, FEBRUARY 4, 1994

Brief Description:  Allowing a nonprofit television reception improvement district to rent space from the department of natural resources for less than the fair market value of the property.

SPONSORS: Senators Hargrove and Snyder

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6556 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; Hargrove, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Erwin, Franklin, Haugen, Oke, Sellar, Snyder and Spanel.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Hearing Dates:  February 2, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Because of severe impediments to television reception, such as the Olympic Mountains, reception in some areas is almost impossible without using transmitters to reinforce and redirect the television signals.  Most of the translators for radio and television are on high mountain tops.  The Department of Natural Resources leases many of the high mountain tops.  The Department of Natural Resources is allowed to lease state lands for commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural and recreational purposes, but must obtain fair market value for the rental return.  Sites are extremely few and because of demand, the rental rates are quite expensive. 

SUMMARY:

A nonprofit television reception improvement district that leases space from the Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of supplying television signals to homes, businesses or other entities that would otherwise be unable to receive United States television station reception is exempt from the requirement to pay fair market value for the property or space rented.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

If funded each biennium by the general fund, 50 percent of the lease fee will be paid by the general fund for nonprofit television reception districts.  An appropriation of $4,500 is made to the Department of Natural Resources from the general fund for the 1994-95 fiscal year.

Appropriation:  $4,500 to DNR

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Joyce area gets Canadian television but not U.S. stations without the translator and the current lease is over $5,000.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (original bill):

The department must be reimbursed if the trust land leases are not paid.

TESTIFIED:  Rich Wilson, Crescent School District (pro); Merlin Andrews, Mr. and Mrs. George Hamlin, CTRID (pro); Stan Biles, Department of Natural Resources (con)