SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6204

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Parks, Fish & Wildlife, February 2, 2004

Title: An act relating to revenue generation on state lands.

Brief Description: Evaluating and expanding revenue generation on state-owned lands.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit, Oke, Hargrove, Swecker, Rasmussen, Morton and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 1/26/04, 2/2/04 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means:

SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Morton and Swecker.

Staff: Kari Guy (786-7437)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Brian Sims (786-7431)

Background: The Department of Fish and Wildlife owns over 490,000 acres of land that are managed to provide habitat for fish and wildlife while also providing recreational opportunity. The Fish and Wildlife Commission may authorize the director to sell timber, gravel, sand, or other natural resources from department property. The Commissioner of Public Lands may also offer for lease oil and gas resources below lands held by the department, with proceeds deposited in the wildlife fund.

The State Parks and Recreation Commission may offer leases for grazing, agricultural, or mineral development purposes on State Parks lands. Timber may be removed from State Parks only in limited circumstances as part of a park development project or to address a hazard.

Summary of Bill: Both the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the State Parks and Recreation Commission must evaluate opportunities for revenue generation from resource management on state lands. Each agency must develop a plan for resource management by December 1, 2004, and update the plan every five years. Any resource management activities must be consistent with the agency purposes.

Timber may be removed from State Park lands to enhance revenue generation, when this timber harvest is consistent with the purposes of the State Park system.

Revenue from resource management activities on Fish and Wildlife lands are deposited in the wildlife account to be used for department land management. Revenue from resource management activities on State Parks lands are deposited in the State Parks renewal and stewardship account to be used for park maintenance and improvements.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.