SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2762

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

             Natural Resources, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to management of community and technical college forest reserve lands.

Brief Description:  Ensuring that the community and technical college forest reserve is managed like other state forests for sustainable commercial forestry and potential multiple use.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Sehlin, Ogden, Cooke and Silver).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  2/20/96, 2/22/96 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Snyder and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  In 1990, the Legislature appropriated $7 million to the Department of Natural Resources for the following purpose:

"The appropriation is provided solely for the purchase, including related administrative costs, of forest lands suitable for sustainable commercial forestry in areas: (a) in danger of being parceled or converted to nonforest uses; (b) where state acquisition is the most prudent means of retaining such lands in forest uses; and (c) where there is potential for multiple use of the lands consistent with RCW 79.68.050."  (SSB 6407, Section 310)

The legislation went on to provide that up to 25 percent of the revenue from the lands could be deposited in the forest development account to reimburse that account for expenditures made from that account for the management of these lands.  The remainder of the revenue from these lands was to be deposited in a new account created by the legislation, the community college forest reserve account.  The Legislature could appropriate the moneys in this new account exclusively for the capital construction needs of the state's community colleges.  The department used the appropriation to purchase 3,233 acres of land in Snohomish County.

The Legislature has not codified a management direction and structure for these forest lands, and technically the budget language quoted above expired with the end of that biennium.  The department would like to invest funds on silvicultural practices on the property, and, although timber harvest is still some years away, there have been proposals for gravel extraction.  Decisions about what would constitute appropriate management of the property are complicated by the lack of statutory direction.

Summary of Amended Bill:  A new section is added to statute directing the management of the community and technical college forest reserve land base.  The land base is forever removed from sale; however, timber and other products may be sold or the land may be leased in the same manner and for the same purposes as authorized for the state's granted lands.  The lands are to be managed for sustainable commercial forestry and for multiple use.  The lands are also to be managed to provide an outdoor education and experience area for organized groups.  Although the land base is reserved from sale, the department may exchange and otherwise reposition the land base in the same way that county forest board lands may be repositioned.

The department may use funds in the forest development account for management of these forest lands.  Up to 25 percent of the revenues from these lands is deposited in the forest development account to reimburse the account for management expenditures.  The remainder of the revenues from these lands is deposited in the renamed community and technical college forest reserve account.  The Legislature may appropriate these funds for community and technical college capital improvement needs or to acquire additional forest reserve lands.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  An incorrect reference to RCW 78.12.080 is removed and language is clarified.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Statutory language is needed so that the community and technical college trust lands can be managed like other trusts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Stan Biles, Dept. of Natural Resources; Bill Julius, community colleges.