SB 5008 - DIGEST

(SEE ALSO PROPOSED 1ST SUB)

     Requires that the department of natural resources shall, as manager for the trust, as part of its management program and in conjunction with the task force created in this act, undertake a study and report back to the legislature by December 1, 2003, concerning:

     (1) A review of the state primary and secondary roads in the Cascade foothills with recommendations on how to increase the number of roads available and how to maintain such roads for future public use;

     (2) Problems on all public lands caused by vandalism and recommendations on how to approach the problem;

     (3) Garbage and illegal dumping on public lands and recommendations on needed legislation;

     (4) A review of misuse of public resources and how the department and the legislature should address this problem;

     (5) Develop recommendations on road damage and on old road failure in order to upgrade the road system to benefit both the trust and the general public; and

     (6) An analysis of road standards, public use, and the methods to ensure that roads are built to standards that will provide a greater value to the trust and a more permanent road system for the public's use and benefit.

     Provides that the department of natural resources shall, when making temporary primary and secondary road closures, prepare a list of road closures at the beginning of each year and notify the affected counties, cities, and all user groups of proposed temporary road closures.  The department of natural resources must hold a hearing in the general area to discuss the temporary closure with the public and with user groups.

     Directs the commissioner of public lands to appoint a task force to work on increasing public access to public lands.