SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5856

                    As of February 17, 1999

Title:  An act relating to fees charged by the state parks and recreation commission.

Brief Description:  Charging fees for the state parks and recreation commission.

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  2/25/99.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Staff:  David Johnson (786-7754)

Background:  The Parks and Recreation Commission charges fees for some of the services it offers.  Although cost and demand increases are determined by the marketplace, the commission is limited to fee increases in the amount of the Initiative 601 growth factor.  In some cases, this may prevent the commission from charging market rates and from recovering some or all of the costs of the fee services it provides.

The fiscal growth factor is a three-year moving average of population growth and inflation, lagged two years.  For fiscal year 1999 the fiscal growth factor is estimated to be 4.18 percent.

Summary of Bill:  The commission is allowed to increase fees in excess of the fiscal growth factor if necessary to correspond to market rates or to recover some or all of the costs of providing the service.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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