SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2355

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Natural Resources & Parks, February 26, 1998

Title:  An act relating to state park lands.

Brief Description:  Managing state park lands.

Sponsors:  Representatives Alexander, Ogden, Lantz, Anderson and Conway; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  2/26/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  Current law restricts the State Parks and Recreation Commission's authority to hold public hearings relating to land exchanges.  The commission must have the hearing neither more than 25 days nor less than 10 days prior to presenting a land exchange proposal to the commission.  In addition, the proceeds from the sale of state park lands must go directly into the general fund.

Summary of Bill:  The restrictions on the time period within which the commission must conduct public hearings are eliminated.  Proceeds from the sale of park land are placed in a dedicated account to purchase other park lands.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This is the same bill which was approved by the committee in the form of SB 6131.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rex Derr, Parks and Recreation Commission.