SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1138

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Parks, Fish & Wildlife, April 1, 2003

Title: An act relating to the state parks and outdoor recreation funding task force.

Brief Description: Continuing the state parks and outdoor recreation funding task force.

Sponsors: House Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives McIntire, Ericksen, Armstrong, Dunshee, Cooper, Anderson, O'Brien, Haigh, Kenney, Lantz, McDermott and Chase).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 4/1/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Esser, Jacobsen, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff: Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background: The State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Funding Task Force was created in the 2002 Supplemental Operating Budget, Chapter 371, Laws of 2002. The budget directed the task force to prepare recommendations for improving the operation of state parks and outdoor recreation programs and to secure adequate funding on a permanent basis to support the needs of state parks and outdoor recreation programs. The task force developed several recommendations for the Legislature's consideration, including a legislative proposal to continue the work of the task force.

Summary of Bill: The task force is continued. The task force consists of 15 members, four members each from the Senate and House of Representatives, three members appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the Commissioner of Public Lands, one member appointed by the chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, one member appointed by the chair of the State Parks and Recreation Commission, and one member appointed by the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.

An additional member is added to the task force. The additional member is appointed by an organization selected by the chair and vice-chair of the task force that represents employees of the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

The task force must evaluate outdoor recreation sites and programs managed by the State Parks and Recreation Commission, DFW, and DNR. The task force must make recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2003, identifying priorities for managing state recreation lands and long-term stable funding sources to support those activities.

The task force expires April 1, 2004.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: The work of the task force is not yet done. A front-line employee will add an important voice to the task force. This will continue the work started last interim, and continued this session, to solve the ongoing parks and recreation budget problems.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Lynn Maier, WPEA; Fred Romero, State Parks and Recreation Commission.