HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1484

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.

Sponsors:  Representative Pennington.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/8/95, 2/14/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Cairnes; Elliot; Jacobsen; Romero; Sheldon; Stevens; B. Thomas and Thompson.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  Forest landowners pay an assessment into the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.  Moneys in this account are used for fire suppression efforts or to deal with extreme fire hazards.

Until 1991, interest earned on the moneys in this account were deposited back into the account.  In 1991, the Legislature made a change in the distribution of interest earnings for a number of different accounts managed by the State Treasurer.  The Legislature's proposal was to change the distribution formula for interest earnings for the 1991-93 biennium.  The Governor's veto put the change in place indefinitely.  As a result of that legislation, interest earned on the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account goes into the state general fund.

For fiscal year 1994, interest earnings on this account were approximately $231,000.

Summary of Bill:  Interest earned on the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account is to be deposited into that account rather than into the general fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 3, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  Forest landowners pay into this account.  It's private money.  The landowners should get the interest in the account.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bob Gustavsun, Washington Forest Protection Association (in favor).