SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5895

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1995

Title:  An act relating to permitting the exchange of state park lands within the Seashore Conservation Area.

Brief Description:  Permitting the exchange of state park lands within the Seashore Conservation Area.

Sponsors:  Senator Snyder.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ecology & Parks:  2/23/95, 2/28/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/9/95, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; C. Anderson, Vice Chair; McAuliffe, McDonald, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786-7708)

Background:  In 1967, the Legislature established the Washington State Seashore Conservation Area.  The Seashore Conservation Area is under the jurisdiction of the State Parks and Recreation Commission and is managed for the purpose of preserving coastal beaches for public recreation. 

The Seashore Conservation Area includes selected segments of coastline along the Pacific Ocean.  It is defined as: (1) the area between the line of ordinary high tide and the line of extreme low tide, or (2) the area between the Seashore Conservation Line, where applicable, and the line of extreme low tide.  The Seashore Conservation Line is established through surveys conducted by State Parks. 

The commission has general authority to sell or exchange park lands that cannot be advantageously used for park purposes.  Such sales or exchanges may only be made after a public hearing and with unanimous consent of the commission.

Current law, however, generally prohibits the commission from selling, leasing, or otherwise disposing of lands within the Seashore Conservation Area.  

Summary of Bill:  The State Parks and Recreation Commission is authorized to exchange state park lands in the Seashore Conservation Area for lands of equal value.  Only state parks lands located east of the Seashore Conservation Line may be exchanged.   

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The bill will provide State Parks the flexibility to consolidate some of its land holdings within the Seashore Conservation Area, and in so doing, will increase public access to the beach.  Any land exchanges with the Seashore Conservation Area would require a public hearing and unanimous consent of the State Parks and Recreation Commission, as is the case for land exchanges elsewhere in the state parks system.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Cleve Pinnix, State Parks and Recreation Commission (pro).