HOUSE BILL REPORT

                E2SSB 6235

                 As Passed House - Amended:

                        March 4, 1998

Title:  An act relating to community athletic facilities.

Brief Description:  Creating the community outdoor athletic fields advisory committee.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen and Kohl).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  2/23/98, 2/26/98 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House - Amended:  3/4/98, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Dunn, Vice Chairman; Veloria, Ranking Minority Member; Eickmeyer, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Ballasiotes; Mason; McDonald and Morris.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:   In 1997, Referendum 48 approved a mechanism established by the state to finance the construction of a stadium and exhibition center through a combination of state, local, and private revenue sources.  The portion of the resulting state and local tax revenues that is in excess of required bond payments and a private contribution of $10 million is used to fund youth athletic facility grants.  The Interagency Committee on Outdoor Recreation administers the youth athletic facility grants and awards them on a competitive basis to city, county, and nonprofit organizations.

Summary of Bill:  The Community Outdoor Athletic Fields Advisory Council is established within the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.  The advisory council consists of nine members, from the public at large, appointed as follows: (a) four members appointed by the chairperson of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation; (b) two members appointed by the House of Representatives, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the House of Representatives;  (c) two members appointed by the Senate, one each appointed by the majority leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the Senate; and (d) one member appointed by the Governor, who serves as chairperson of the advisory council.  The members of the advisory council are appointed for three-year terms.  The members of the advisory council do not receive compensation, but are reimbursed for travel expenses.

The advisory council must provide information to and make recommendations to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation on funding awards from the youth athletic facility grant account.  The funds are awarded to cities, counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations to acquire, develop, equip, maintain, and improve youth or community athletic facilities including, but not limited to, community outdoor athletic fields.

The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, in consultation with the advisory council, may: (a) prepare and update a strategic plan, using available data, for the development, maintenance, and improvement of community outdoor athletic fields in the state; (b) determine  the eligibility requirements for cities, counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations to access funding from the youth athletic facility grant account; (c) encourage and provide opportunities for interagency and regional coordination and cooperative efforts between agencies and between public and private entities involved in community outdoor athletic fields; and (d) create and maintain data, studies, research, and other information on community outdoor athletic fields in the state. 

The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and endowments from public and private sources to be used to support the development of youth athletic facilities.

The advisory committee expires one year after authorization to collect state and local taxes to finance the construction of the stadium and exhibition center expire.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  We want to continue our efforts to help the youth of the state.  There is a lack of recreational facilities throughout the state.  This program will help address the need for outdoor recreational facilities.  Having the advisory council will provided needed input and guidance to the agency when they make funding awards.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:   Scott Sodebeer, Mike Merriam, Roger Wilson, Friends of Athletic Fields (pro); Ralph Ibarra (pro); and Joey Gray, Friends of Athletic Fields/Disc NW (pro).