H-3222.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2170

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State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Buck, Goldsmith, Benton, Blanton, Thompson, Hymes, Koster, Pennington, Campbell, Stevens, Hargrove and McMahan

Read first time 01/08/96.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Asserting state ownership of and jurisdiction over areas associated with beds and banks of navigable waters.

     AN ACT Relating to state ownership of and jurisdiction over areas associated with beds and banks of navigable waters; adding a new section to chapter 79.90 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 43.01 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 79.90 RCW to read as follows:

     Under applicable federal and state law the state of Washington was admitted to the union on equal footing with the original thirteen states. The state of Washington has not ceded to the United States, either expressly or implicitly, its ownership of and jurisdiction over the beds and banks of navigable waters, all soils under the beds and banks, and all tidewaters associated with the beds and banks within the borders of the state of Washington, retaining absolute sovereignty, dominion, and control to dispose of title to the property.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.01 RCW to read as follows:

     In the discharge of their official duties, the governor, attorney general, and other constitutional officers shall vigorously assert and defend in all forms the state's ownership of and jurisdiction over the beds and banks of navigable waters, all soils under the beds and banks, and all tidewaters within the borders of the state of Washington.

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