HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6585

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to distribution of nonhighway vehicle funds.

Brief Description:  Authorizing distribution of nonhighway vehicle funds to nonprofit off‑road vehicle organizations.

Sponsors:  Senators Oke and Rossi.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/24/98, 2/27/98 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Buck, Chairman; Sump, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Regala, Ranking Minority Member; Butler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Anderson; Chandler; Eickmeyer; Hatfield and Pennington.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) administers a nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program.  Funds for this program come from the portion the IAC receives from registration of off-road vehicles and motor vehicle fuel tax revenues.  The IAC distributes a portion of these funds to state agencies, counties, municipalities, federal agencies, and Indian tribes through a competitive grants program.  These public agencies use the grants they receive for planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, and management of nonhighway and off-road recreational opportunities.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Non-profit off-road vehicle organizations are also eligible to receive IAC funds through the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program competitive grants process if the funds are spent for projects or activities on lands once publicly owned that come into private ownership in a federally-approved land exchange completed between January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2005.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The underlying bill allowed nonprofit off-road vehicle organizations to compete for these funds if the projects were located on lands acquired in a land exchange with a federal or state agency on or after December 3, 1964.  The amended bill allows these groups to compete for these funds for projects or activities on lands once publicly owned that come into private ownership in a federally-approved land exchange completed between January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2005.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Please support the bill and further clarify it with the House amendment.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Steve Gano, Plum Creek Timber Company (in favor).