Sponsors: By Representatives D. Simpson, Pearson, Cooper, Sump, Upthegrove and Chase.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Establishes the Washington State Parks Centennial Advisory Committee to develop plans to finance and implement the Centennial 2013 Plan.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cooper, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Sump, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buck, Hatfield, O'Brien, Pearson and Simpson, D.

In 1913, the Legislature established the Washington State Board of Parks Commissioners, marking the first year for Washington State Parks. Since its inception, the system has grown to over 100 locations across the state. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) has adopted a vision to guide the park system toward its 100th anniversary in 2013.

The Commission is granted authority to care for and supervise the state park system. The Commission consists of seven members appointed by the Governor. The members of the Commission must select one of its members as chair.

The Washington State Parks Centennial Advisory Committee (Committee) is created consisting of 11 members. Members of the Committee include the chair and vice-chair of the Commission, a representative of the Governor, four legislative members representing each of the largest caucuses in the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Director of the Office of Financial Management (OFM), and three members of the public appointed by the chair of the Commission. The three members representing the public must consist of a representative of Commission employees, a representative of private sector donors, and a representative of state parks users. Staff support for the Committee is provided by the Commission, and may also be provided by the Legislature, the Governor, the OFM, or other sources. The Committee will meet at the call of the chair.

Nonlegislative committee members will be reimbursed for travel expenses by rates established by the OFM for persons appointed to serve without compensation on a committee. Legislative members will be reimbursed according to policies established by the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House for members when conducting legislative business.

The Committee shall develop a proposal to implement the Centennial 2013 Plan (Plan). The Plan proposal shall include a complete description of the policy and fiscal components, the roles of the implementing entities, time frames, and cost estimates for each component on an annual or biennial basis. The Commission will review and may revise the Plan, and must submit a draft proposal to the OFM and the fiscal committees of the Legislature by September 1, 2004. The Commission must submit a complete proposal to the OFM and the fiscal committees of the Legislature by January 1, 2005. For subsequent biennia, the Commission must submit revised proposals by June 30 of each even-numbered year. The act expires December 31, 2013.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The State Parks and Recreation Commission has done an analysis and reported to the Legislature on the current condition of the park system. The park system is loved to death, and needs a long range plan to set objectives and targets that can be reached. The Parks Commission, a diverse group of seven citizens, has come together and worked hard to make the park system successful. An advisory board can help put together a plan to implement in time for the centennial in 2013. Budgets are being worked on right now for the 2005-07 biennium, and a draft plan is needed by September 2004.

Persons Testifying: Representative D. Simpson, prime sponsor; Joe Taller, State Parks Commission; Jim King, Citizens for Parks and Recreation .