HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

               HOUSE BILL 1233

       Forest Fire Suppression Account

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

Committee:    Natural Resources

Sponsor(s):   Representatives Sump, Pennington, Morris, McMorris, Quall, Sheldon, Hickel, Honeyford, Doumit and Buck

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:

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

                      Prepared by Linda Byers (786-7129)

                       House Natural Resources Committee

                               January 31, 1997