H-1975.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1061

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Sheldon, Mielke and Grant)

Read first time 02/20/97.

Restricting the state parks and recreation commission authority to regulate metal detectors.

    AN ACT Relating to metal detectors in state parks; adding new sections to chapter 43.51 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  It is the intent of the legislature that those significant historic archaeological resources on state park lands that are of importance to the history of our state, or its communities, be protected for the people of the state.  At the same time, the legislature also recognizes that the recreational use of metal detectors in state parks is a legitimate form of recreation that can be compatible with the protection of significant historic archaeological resources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.51 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) By September 1, 1997, the commission shall increase the area available for use by recreational metal detectors by at least two hundred acres.

    (2) Beginning September 1, 1998, and each year thereafter until August 31, 2003, the commission shall increase the area of land available for use by recreational metal detectors by at least fifty acres.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.51 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The commission shall develop a cost-effective plan to identify historic archaeological resources in at least one state park containing a military fort located in Puget Sound.  The plan shall include the use of a professional archaeologist and volunteer citizens.  By December 1, 1997, the commission shall submit a brief report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature on how the plan will be implemented and the cost of the plan.

    (2) Any park land that is made available for use by recreational metal detectors under this section shall count toward the requirements established in section 2 of this act.

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