HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1484

                      As Passed House:

                      February 5, 1996

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:  House Committee on Finance (originally sponsored by Representative Pennington).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  1/24/96 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/5/96, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Elliot; Hatfield; Jacobsen; Keiser; Sheldon; Stevens; L. 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 was deposited back into the account.  In 1991, the Legislature made a change in the distribution of interest earnings for a number of 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.

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:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  (1995) Forest landowners pay into this account.  It is private money.  The landowners should get the interest in the account.

Testimony Against:   (1995) None.

Testified:  (1995) Bob Gustavsun, Washington Forest Protection Association (in favor).