H-1645.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2081
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Representative Dunn
Read first time 02/14/2001. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to the nonconsumptive use of natural resources; adding new sections to chapter 79A.25 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature declares that our natural resources are extremely important to the economic well-being and quality of life of our citizens. These natural resources benefit all the people of the state, but in particular, the people who use the great outdoors for recreational purposes.
It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that there will always be adequate funding to protect the natural areas of the state. At present, hunters and fishers contribute license fees, but there is still a very heavy reliance on the general fund for the support of nonconsumptive users who require and use hiking trails. It is the intent of the legislature that nonconsumptive users of our natural environment be given the opportunity to support their recreational interests and use of hiking trails in a meaningful and equitable fashion.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 79A.25 RCW to read as follows:
The hiking-only trail pass program is established under the authority of the committee. A person using a hiking trail that is designated as a hiking-only trail, located on public land in the state, must have in his or her possession a valid hiking trail pass.
The committee must adopt by rule guidelines for the creation and operation of the hiking-only trail pass program, including provisions for the retail sale of passes for the use of hiking-only trails located on public land in the state. The committee is authorized to use the same retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing licenses to sell the hiking-only trail passes.
Each public agency that manages land in the state that is suitable for hiking may designate appropriate trails on its property as hiking-only trails that require a hiking-only trail pass.
A hiking-only trail pass costs two dollars and fifty cents for a one-day pass, and fifteen dollars for an annual pass. Of that amount, the vendor of the pass may retain fifty cents, and the department of fish and wildlife may retain twenty-five cents. Revenue received by the department of fish and wildlife must be deposited in the state wildlife fund established in RCW 77.12.170. The remaining revenue must be deposited into the hiking-only trail pass account, established in section 3 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 79A.25 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The hiking-only trail pass account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All designated receipts from the sales of hiking-only trail passes created under section 2 of this act must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for hiking trail maintenance as provided for in subsection (2) of this section. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
(2) The committee must adopt by rule requirements for the distribution of moneys from the hiking-only trail pass account. The committee must establish a process to disburse moneys to eligible groups that will use the money to provide hiking trail maintenance and repair on hiking-only trails located throughout the state.
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