SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1016

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Natural Resources & Parks, March 21, 1997

Title:  An act relating to transferring Lind property to Washington State University.

Brief Description:  Transferring property to Washington State University Lind dryland research unit.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives Schoesler, Honeyford, McMorris, Carlson, Boldt, Mason, Sheahan, Buck, Ogden, Huff, Grant, Chandler and Clements; by request of Washington State University).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  3/21/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Jacobsen, Prentice, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background:  The state treasury has been named devisee of certain property in Adams County pursuant to the will of Cleora Neare.  Current law provides that all property devised to the state is to be managed and controlled by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) unless conveyed or devised to the state to be used for a particular purpose.  Traditionally, property given to the state is managed for the benefit of public schools.

The department can keep the land, sell it at public auction or direct sale to another public agency.  State land can also be sold, with DNR approval, at a price no lower than appraised value.  Washington State University is on the market for additional land to supplement the Lind Dryland Research unit.  The 1,000 acre plot of land is directly adjacent to the WSU unit.  The house is located in the town of Lind.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to transfer part of the devised property to Washington State University for use in conjunction with the Lind dryland research unit located in Adams County.  Washington State University is granted ownership, management and control of all of section 6, and the west half of section 5, township 17, range 34 East E.W.M., Adams county, Washington upon the close of probate, or sooner if the property can be transferred without cost, other than probate costs properly allocated to the state as devisee.

The parcel becomes part of the Lind dryland research unit.  Any and all lease income from current leases must be deposited in a Washington State University local account dedicated for the benefit of the research unit.

The house and real property in Lind, described as lots 28 and 29, block 10, Neilson Brothers plat, must be sold with the proceeds from the sale deposited into the permanent school fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  WSU does not need to be burdened with maintenance of the house in Lind.  This would be the driest agricultural research facility in the U.S.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Schoesler, original prime sponsor.