SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6152

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Natural Resources & Parks, January 20, 1998

                Ways & Means, February 3, 1998

Title:  An act relating to state park lands.

Brief Description:  Managing state park lands.

Sponsors:  Senator Swecker; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks: 1/15/98, 1/20/98 [DPA-WM].

Ways & Means:  1/29/98, 2/3/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6152 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, Loveland, Rossi, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Zarelli.

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786-7708)

Background:  Current law restricts the State Parks and Recreations Commission=s authority to hold public hearings relating to land exchanges.  The commission must have the hearing not greater than 25 days nor less than 10 days prior to presenting the land exchange idea to the commission.  In addition, law requires that the proceeds from sale of state park lands go directly into the general fund.  Often people donate lands to the state for park purposes and if they cannot be used for a park purpose, they may be sold.  If the money goes into the general fund, it is felt that fewer people will donate the land to the state for park purposes, since the money will not be used to repurchase park lands if the land contributed is not suitable.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The restriction on the time period within which State Parks must conduct public hearings is eliminated, but a public hearing still must be held.  Proceeds from the sale of park land are placed in a dedicated account to purchase other park lands.

Interest accruing to the parks land account is placed in that account rather than the general fund.

Substitute Bill Compared to Amended Bill:  The substitute bill deletes a provision for interest accruing to the parks land account to be retained in the parks land account, not the general fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For (Natural Resources & Parks):  More time for public hearings will increase public access.  Money from the sale of land given to the state for park purposes should be used to purchase more park land.

Testimony Against (Natural Resources & Parks):  None.

Testified (Natural Resources & Parks):  Cleve Pinnix, Director, Washington State Parks.

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  The bill provides State Parks with greater flexibility in selling properties that don=t provide sufficient recreation benefits.  State parks would like to be able to sell these lands and use the proceeds to reinvest in lands that do provide recreation benefits.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  PRO:  Senator Dan Swecker, prime sponsor; Cleve Pinnix, State Parks and Recreation Commission.