Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

HB 1836

Brief Description:  Creating a legislative task force on local park and recreation maintenance and operations.

Sponsors:  Representatives Edwards, Doumit, Sump, Cooper, Haigh, Eickmeyer, Tokuda, Boldt, Dunn, Esser, Lovick and Jackley.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Establishes a legislative task force on local park and recreation maintenance and operations.  Membership includes legislators, and representatives of cities, counties, park users, businesses, and the environment.

$Requires the task force to report its findings by December 1, 2001.

Hearing Date:  2/14/01

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background: 

There is a growing demand by the public for local parks.  Although some limited funding is available for park acquisition, development, and renovation, the maintenance and operation of these parks is largely a local government responsibility.

Summary of Bill: 

A legislative task force on local park and recreation maintenance and operations is established.  The task force is composed of:  four members of the state House of Representatives, two from each major caucus, appointed by the co-speakers; four members of the state Senate, two from each major caucus, appointed by the president of the senate; two representatives of county government parks and recreation, one from an urban county and one from a rural county, appointed by a statewide organization representing county governments; two representatives of city parks and recreation, one of whom must be from a city with a population over 30,000 and one from a city with a population of less than 30,000, appointed by a statewide organization representing cities; three representatives of local parks users, one who represents the interests of team sport users, one who represents the interests of individual users, and one who represents youth users, appointed by a statewide organization that represents local park and recreation interests; a representative of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) appointed by the director of OFM; a representative of the sporting goods and outdoor recreation products industry, appointed by a statewide organization that represents producers and retailers of such merchandise; a representative of commercial business interests that are affected by the existence of local parks, appointed by a statewide organization representing the interests of commercial business in the state; and a representative of an environmental interest organization with familiarity and expertise in parks land use issues, appointed by a statewide organization representing environmental interests.

The task force elects its own chair.  Staff support for the task force is provided by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.  The task force is directed to convene as soon as possible after the appointment of its members.  The task force must meet in at least four different parts of the state.

The task force is required to report and recommend to the Legislature an analysis that: details current local park and recreation uses and trends; details current funding for local park and recreation maintenance and operations; describes the benefits that local parks provide to the state;

examines the anticipated future needs of local parks and recreation agencies; and includes recommendations on sources of funding to meet the operational needs of local parks and recreation agencies.

The task force may make recommendations on other issues related to the successful implementation of this legislation.     The task force expires on June 30, 2002.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 8, 2001.

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