[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to a legislative task force on local park and recreation maintenance and operations; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislative task force on local park and recreation maintenance and operations is created and is comprised of the following members, who are appointed as follows:

(a) Four members of the house of representatives, two from each major caucus, appointed by the co-speakers of the house of representatives;

(b) Four members of the senate, two from each major caucus, appointed by the president of the senate;

(c) Two representatives of county government parks and recreation, one of whom must be from a county that is mostly urban and one from a county that is mostly rural, appointed by a statewide organization representing county governments;

(d) Two representatives of city government parks and recreation, one of whom must be from a city with a population over thirty thousand people and one from a city with a population less than thirty thousand people, appointed by a statewide organization representing city governments;

(e) Three representatives of local parks users, one of whom must represent the interests of team sport users, one of whom must represent the interests of individual users, and one of whom must represent youth users, appointed by a statewide organization that represents local park and recreation interests;

(f) A representative of the office of financial management, appointed by the director of the office of financial management;

(g) A representative of the sporting goods and outdoor recreation products industry, appointed by a statewide organization representing producers and retailers of such merchandise;

(h) 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 this state;

(i) A representative of an environmental interest organization with familiarity and expertise in parks land use issues, appointed by a statewide organization representing environmental interests; and

(j) A representative from either a metropolitan park district, a park and recreation service area, or a park and recreation district.

(2) The task force must convene as soon as possible upon appointment of its members. The task force must elect a chair and agree upon procedures for conducting the business of the task force. Staff support for the task force must be provided by the interagency committee for outdoor recreation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) By December 1, 2001, the task force established in section 1 of this act must report and recommend to the legislature:

(a) An analysis detailing current local park and recreation uses and trends;

(b) An analysis detailing current funding for local park and recreation maintenance and operations;

(d) An analysis of the anticipated future needs of local parks and recreation agencies, including utilization, maintenance, operations, and other needs identified; and

(e) Recommended sources of funding to meet the operational needs of local parks and recreation agencies identified in the report.

(2) The task force must make recommendations to the legislature on any other issues, and at such times, as the task force deems important to the successful implementation of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The task force shall meet as and when it sees fit in order to properly carry out the functions and duties set forth in this act. However, in order to facilitate substantial and inclusive input, the task force shall meet in at least four different parts of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act expires June 30, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.