FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1342

                         C 211 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating the parks renewal and stewardship account.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Fuhrman, Buck, Sehlin, Romero, Ogden, Regala, Jacobsen and Basich; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission).

House Committee on Natural Resources

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ecology & Parks

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  In 1971 the Legislature created the Trust Land Acquisition Program.  This program authorized the State Parks and Recreation Commission to purchase trust lands which are suitable for park purposes from the Department of Natural Resources.  There are 50 trust land parcels identified in statute as suitable for these purchases.  All but one of the parcels identified in statute have been purchased by the State Parks and Recreation Commission for inclusion in the parks system.  Currently, the Board of Natural Resources negotiates the terms of the sale with the Parks Commission.

The 1971 legislation also established the trust land purchase account.  Originally, all monies from park concessions and user fees were deposited into this account and used to assist the Parks Commission in purchasing trust lands identified for addition to the parks system.  In recent years, this account has been increasingly used to fund park operations. 

The 1994 supplemental operating budget directed the Parks Commission to study options for increasing the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the acquisition, development, and operation of the state parks system.  The Office of Financial Management also directed the Parks Commission to review the way its programs are funded and to recommend appropriate alternatives.   The commission's study made a number of recommendations, including establishing a dedicated, non-appropriated account into which park user fees would be deposited for park operations and maintenance.   This recommendation has been introduced to the Legislature as HB 1342.

The Parks Commission is authorized to sell timber from State Parks if the timber is surplus to the needs of the park.   State law defines the manner by which trees on park lands are managed and removed.

Summary:  The trust land purchase account is eliminated and the parks renewal and stewardship account is created.   All State Park revenue, including user fees, leases, and concession receipts, are deposited into the renewal and stewardship account.   Revenues from the account may be used for capital improvements, stewardship activities, or for other activities as determined by the Parks Commission.  The account is subject to allotment procedures and to legislative appropriation.

Revenue from surplus timber sales on state park land is to be deposited into the renewal and stewardship account. 

The Department of Natural Resources and State Parks are granted general authority to negotiate the sale of trust lands to the Parks Commission at fair market value. 

The names and descriptions of previously purchased trust land parcels are removed from the statute.   Various changes are made in provisions dealing with the park land trust revolving fund.  Disbursements from the fund may be made by authorization of the Department of Natural Resources, rather than the Board of Natural Resources.  

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 0

Senate    43 0 (Senate amended)

House     93 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1995