FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2461

                          C 71 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Requiring a timely distribution of certain state forest land funds back to the counties.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Buck, Sump, Kessler, Schoesler, Benson, Koster, DeBolt, McMorris, Alexander, Gardner, Linville, Thompson and Mulliken).

House Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages "forest board lands" in 21 counties.  The forest board lands come in two categories:  forest board transfer lands and forest board purchase lands.  The forest board transfer lands are forest lands that are largely acquired by counties through tax lien foreclosures, then transferred to state ownership for management by the DNR as state forest lands.  The DNR manages approximately 545,000 acres of these lands.  When a revenue-generating activity such as a timber sale occurs on the lands, the DNR may deduct up to 25 percent of the proceeds for administration, reforestation, and protection of the forest lands. The balance of the revenue goes to the respective counties and is distributed among various funds in the same manner as general tax dollars are distributed.  Forest board purchase lands are acquired by the state by either purchase or gift.  The DNR manages just under 78,000 acres of these forest lands.  After a 50 percent deduction for the DNR, the revenue from these lands goes to the state general fund for the support of public schools and to the counties with the same distribution as the forest board transfer land revenues. 

When revenues are generated from the forest board lands, the DNR receives the monies first.  After deducting a percentage, the DNR transfers the monies to the State Treasurer, who then distributes funds to the counties.

Summary:  With regard to the distribution of revenues to counties from forest board transfer and purchase lands, the Department of Natural Resources must certify to the State Treasurer the amounts to be distributed to the counties within seven working days of receipt of the money.  The State Treasurer must distribute funds to the counties four times per month, with no more than 10 days between each payment date.

Votes on Final Passage:

House8413

Senate451

Effective:June 11, 1998