FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6581

C 216 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Funding forest fire protection.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water (originally sponsored by Senator Hargrove).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

Background: Owners of forest land are required to adequately protect against the spread of fire from or onto their property during the fire season. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides fire protection for forest landowners who are unable to provide their own fire protection and imposes an assessment to cover these costs.

Owners of multiple parcels of forest land located within the same county may apply to DNR for a refund of a portion of the fire protection assessment paid. These owners may submit to DNR a single application listing the parcels owned. The county must bill the forest fire protection assessment on the one parcel identified by the department for collection of the assessment.

Property owners with the following number of parcels may apply for a single assessment in the year indicated:

            Year                      Number of Parcels

            2004                            6 or more parcels

            2005                            4 or more parcels

            2006 and thereafter     2 or more parcels

Summary: Property owners with six or more parcels of forest land located within the same county may apply for a single assessment in 2004 and thereafter. Owners of fewer than six parcels may not seek a single assessment.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       96  0

Effective: June 10, 2004