SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6585

              As Passed Senate, February 14, 1998

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 & Parks:  2/3/98, 2/5/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/14/98, 41-5.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Paul Mabrey (786-7412)

Background:  The Department of Licensing issues use permits for off-road vehicles (ORV) and collects fees for issuing permits and registering decals.  The department also issues ORV dealer permits and charges a fee for the permit.  The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation distributes the monies collected to the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program account. The committee administers the funds for planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, and management of ORV recreational facilities and nonhighway road recreational facilities.  The committee distributes these funds to state agencies, counties, municipalities, federal agencies and Indian tribes.

Summary of Bill:  Nonprofit ORV organizations are added to the list of recipients of the funds distributed by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.  The funds received by these ORV organizations are used only for projects that benefit ORV recreation facilities located on lands acquired by land exchange on or after December 3, 1964.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 29, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  There is general support from landowners who recently acquired land with existing ORV trails.  The law forbids private organizations from applying for state funds.  This bill would allow nonprofit ORV organizations to apply for funds that would not otherwise be available.  The ORV group testified that if funds are available, the trails on the swapped land could be maintained.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jim Putman, Pacific NW Four-Wheel Drive Association (pro); Steve Gano, Plum Creek (pro).