HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1233

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sump, Pennington, Morris, McMorris, Quall, Sheldon, Hickel, Honeyford, Doumit and Buck.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  1/31/97, 2/11/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Buck, Chairman; Sump, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Regala, Ranking Minority Member; Butler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Anderson; Chandler; Hatfield; Pennington and Sheldon.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  Forest landowners pay an assessment into the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account.  Moneys in this account are used for fire suppression efforts or to deal with extreme fire hazards.

Until 1991, interest earned on the moneys in this account were deposited back into the account.  In  1991, the Legislature made a change in the distribution of interest earnings for a number of different accounts managed by the state treasurer.  The Legislature's proposal was to change the distribution formula for interest earnings for the 1991-93 biennium.  The Governor's veto put the change in place indefinitely.  As a result of that legislation, interest earned on the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account goes into the state general fund.

Summary of Bill:  Interest earned on the landowner contingency forest fire suppression account is to be deposited into that account rather than into the general fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Private landowners pay into this account for fire suppression.  Diverting the interest to the general fund has had an impact on the fees.  Out of fairness, the landowners should get to keep that interest.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tim Boyd, Washington Forest Protection Association.