FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1437

                         C 105 L 95

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Revising lease rates for amateur radio electronic repeater sites.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Foreman, Chandler, Mastin and B. Thomas).

House Committee on Natural Resources

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources may lease state lands for a variety of purposes, including commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural, and recreational purposes.  In determining the lease rate, the department must ensure a fair market rental return to the state or the appropriate trust. 

In 1988, the Legislature enacted legislation acknowledging the essential role performed by amateur radio operators in emergency communications and establishing a policy of providing a discount in the rental fee paid by amateur radio operators.  For the first repeater unit placed at a department site by an eligible amateur radio lessee, the lease rate is 50 percent of the normal rental rate.  For any subsequent repeater units placed at the same site, the lessee pays 25 percent of the normal rental rate.

The 1988 legislation requires that the state receive the full market rental value for these sites.  The department was directed to develop guidelines to determine which amateur radios lessees receive the reduced rental rate based on the amount of funding provided by the Legislature to offset the full market rental rates.

Currently, the department leases space to 22 amateur radio operators for 45 radio units on 14 different sites. 

Summary:  A new reduced rental rate program replaces the percentage rental rate reduction program in current law.  An amateur radio operator qualifies for a reduced rent of $100 per year per site if the operator:  (1) registers and remains in good standing with the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services and Amateur Radio Emergency Services organizations; or (2) if an amateur group is involved, the group signs a statement of public service developed by the Department of Natural Resources.

The Legislature's appropriations for this program shall account for the estimated difference between the reduced rental rate the amateur radio operators pay and the fair market rent of the sites, as established by the department.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     95 0

Senate    41 0

Effective:  July 23, 1995