FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1353

                         C 240 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Facilitating sale of materials from department of transportation lands.

Sponsors:  Representatives Buck, Fisher, K. Schmidt, Mitchell and Wensman; by request of Department of Transportation.

House Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to dispose of materials on state-owned land.  The process requires a public auction to be held after due notice has been given.  If no satisfactory bids are received, however, the department may sell the materials privately.  An alternative process for disposal of materials of no value allows the DOT to issue permits and give the materials away.

When a parcel of land abutting a state right of way is logged, the small strip of timber that is left standing on the right of way is made vulnerable to blow-down, posing a safety hazard to the motoring public.  The DOT is authorized to give away timber that has no value; but if the department wants to sell the timber, it must do so by public auction, regardless of the timber=s value or quantity.

Summary: Two additional processes are prescribed that enable the Department of Transportation to dispose of timber attached to state land: 1) The department may sell the timber to an abutting land owner, for cash at the full appraised value.  If there is more than one abutting landowner, all abutting landowners must be notified of the proposed sale.  If more than one abutting landowner requests the right to purchase the timber, the timber must be sold through public auction; and 2) The department may sell timber having a value of $1000 or less directly to interested parties for cash at the full appraised value, without public notice or advertisement.  If the timber remains attached to state land, then the department must issue a permit that allows the interested parties to remove the timber.  The permit fee is $2.50.

Votes on Final Passage:

House:960

Senate:430(Senate amended)

House:890(House concurred)

Effective:July 27,  1997