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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2762
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AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 1996 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996
Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/02/96.
Ensuring that the community and
technical college forest reserve is managed like other state forests for
sustainable commercial forestry and potential multiple use.
AN ACT Relating to
management of community and technical college forest reserve lands; and adding
a new section to chapter 76.12 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. A new section is added
to chapter 76.12 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature
finds that the state's community and technical colleges need a dedicated source
of revenue to augment other sources of capital improvement funding. The intent
of this section is to ensure that the forest land purchased under section 310,
chapter 16, Laws of 1990 1st ex. sess. and known as the community and technical
college forest reserve land base, is managed in perpetuity and in the same manner
as state forest lands for sustainable commercial forestry and multiple use of
lands consistent with RCW 79.68.050. These state lands will also be managed to
provide an outdoor education and experience area for organized groups. The
lands will provide a source of revenue for the long term capital improvement
needs of the state community and technical college system.
(2) There has been
increasing pressure to convert forest lands within areas of the state subject
to population growth. Loss of forest land in urbanizing areas reduces the
production of forest products and the available supply of open space, watershed
protection, habitat, and recreational opportunities. The land known as the
community and technical college forest reserve land base is forever reserved
from sale. However, the timber and other products on the land may be sold, or
the land may be leased in the same manner and for the same purposes as
authorized for state granted lands if the department finds the sale or lease to
be in the best interest of this forest reserve land base and approves the terms
and conditions of the sale or lease.
(3) The land exchange
and acquisition powers provided in RCW 76.12.050 may be used by the department
to reposition land within the community and technical college forest reserve
land base consistent with subsection (1) of this section.
(4) Up to twenty-five
percent of the revenue from these lands, as determined by the board of natural
resources, will be deposited in the forest development account to reimburse the
forest development account for expenditures from the account for management of
these lands.
(5) The
community college forest reserve account, created under section 310, chapter
16, Laws of 1990 1st ex. sess., is renamed the community and technical college
forest reserve account. The remainder of the revenue from these lands must be
deposited in the community and technical college forest reserve account. Money
in the account may be appropriated by the legislature for the capital
improvement needs of the state community and technical college system or to
acquire additional forest reserve lands.
