FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1016

                          C 45 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Transferring property to Washington State University Lind dryland research unit.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives Schoesler, Honeyford, McMorris, Carlson, Boldt, Mason, Sheahan, Buck, Ogden, Huff, Grant, Chandler and Clements; by request of Washington State University).

House Committee on Capital Budget

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources controls and manages all land acquired by the state by either tax default, gift, or purchase.  If the department decides to sell state land, it can be sold either at a public auction or by direct sale to another public agency.  State land can also be marketed and sold to private and commercial entities, at a price no lower than the appraised value, if approved by the board of natural resources.

In 1982, Washington was named in a will as beneficiary of a house in the city of Lind and also a 1,000 acre farm, located next to the Washington State University Lind Dryland Research Unit.  The benefactor, Cleora Neare, recently died, and the property is about to be deeded to the Department of Natural Resources, consistent with the normal procedure for gifts of land to the state.  The land will be managed by the department in the same manner as school lands.  The Washington State University Lind Dryland Research unit, which conducts research on dryland farming techniques, has been in the market to purchase farm land in the Lind area to expand the Unit's research activities.  After being notified of the willed property, WSU began discussions with the Department of Natural Resources to transfer the farm property to the research unit.

Summary:  The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to distribute the property willed to the state by Cleora Neare to Washington State University and to the state's public schools.  Washington State University is granted ownership of the farm land located next to the Lind Dryland Research unit without cost other than the cost of probate.  The property will become part of the Washington State University Lind Dryland Research unit, and all income from current leases on the land will be deposited into a local account for the benefit of the research unit.

The house in the city of Lind will be sold and the proceeds from the sale deposited into the permanent common school fund.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97 0

Senate 47 0

Effective: July 27, 1997