H-2560.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1428
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Van Luven and Regala; by request of Commissioner of Public Lands and Department of Natural Resources)
Read first time 03/05/97.
AN ACT Relating to condominium and cooperative leasehold interests in state-owned aquatic land; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that a number of different parties have expressed concerns this legislative session regarding the leasing and management policies for state-owned aquatic lands. Concerns have been raised by the department of natural resources over lease-related activities taking place on state-owned aquatic lands that may be detrimental to the public interest. Concerns have been raised by port districts regarding the management agreements port districts may enter into with the department of natural resources. Concerns have also been raised by lessees of state-owned aquatic lands. The legislature finds that it would be worthwhile to revisit the aquatic lands policies adopted by the legislature in 1984 regarding the management and leasing policies of state-owned aquatic lands. Because of the complexity of these issues alone, the legislature does not find it necessary at this time to review policies on the sale of valuable materials from state-owned aquatic lands.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) There is created a joint select committee on aquatic lands to study leasing and management issues related to state-owned aquatic lands. The committee shall consist of four members. Two members shall be from the house of representatives, one from each caucus, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Two members shall be from the senate, one from each caucus, appointed by the president of the senate. The committee shall select a chair and vice-chair from its membership.
(2) The committee shall conduct a broad review of the statutes and policies currently in place regarding the management and the leasing of state-owned aquatic lands, particularly those policies reflected in RCW 79.90.450 through 79.90.545. The committee's review shall include but not be limited to:
(a) The overall management guidelines for aquatic lands expressed in RCW 79.90.455;
(b) The definitions of water-dependent, water-oriented, and nonwater-dependent uses and the approaches taken to calculate lease rates for those uses;
(c) Issues associated with the management of state-owned aquatic lands by port districts; and
(d) The leasing of state-owned aquatic lands by condominium, cooperative leasehold, and other similar interests and the effects of these types of leases on the public interest.
(3) Staff support for the committee shall be provided by the house of representatives office of program research and senate committee services.
(4) The committee shall report back to the legislature on the findings from its review and on any recommended statutory changes by December 1, 1997.
(5) The committee expires April 1, 1998.
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