FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1632

                         C 357 L 95

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Exchanging certain public lands.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Horn, Basich and Fuhrman).

House Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources manages over 2 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands.  These aquatic lands were granted to the state at statehood and include tidelands, shorelands, and bedlands.  Approximately 39 percent of the state's original endowment of tidelands, 70 percent of the original shorelands, and all of the state's bedlands remain in public ownership.  Current law prevents any further sale of shorelands and tidelands except to public entities.

The department has specific authority to exchange uplands for certain purposes.  The department has specific authority to exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands under certain conditions for municipal park and playground purposes.  There is no other express authority in statute allowing the department to exchange tidelands and shorelands.

Summary:  The Department of Natural Resources may exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands with private and other public landowners if the exchange is in the public interest and will actively contribute to the public benefits identified in the statutory guidelines for management of aquatic lands.  The department may not exchange state-owned harbor areas or waterways.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     95 0

Senate   44 1 (Senate amended)

House     93 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 23, 1995