BILL REQ. #:  H-2226.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to the creation of the legacy trust for recreation and conservation; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that during the 2003 legislative session, the commissioner of public lands brought forward the idea of the creation of a legacy trust in the form of House Bill No. 1803 and Senate Bill No. 5750. The legacy trust was proposed to serve as a new land trust, managed by the department of natural resources, the revenue from which would be dedicated to supporting recreational access and use on state-owned lands.
     (2) The legislature concurs with the commissioner of public lands that the demand for the use and enjoyment of public lands is extensive and growing and that the quality of recreational experiences, safety to the public, upkeep of trails and facilities, and protection of land from ecological impacts may be in jeopardy.
     (3) The legislature further finds that the ideas brought forward by the commissioner of public lands, as well as other ideas for achieving similar goals, deserves the attention of select legislators in the interim between the 2003 and 2004 legislative sessions.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A joint select committee on the legacy trust proposal is established to consider, study, and review the legacy trust proposal brought forward by the commissioner of public lands for establishing a stable, long-term revenue source to support recreational access and use on state-owned lands, and to consider any alternate methods to achieve the same goals.
     (2) The membership of the joint select committee consists of:
     (a) One member from each caucus of the house of representatives, selected by the speaker of the house or representatives, from the membership of the agriculture and natural resources committee;
     (b) One member from each caucus of the house of representatives, selected by the speaker of the house of representatives, from the membership of the capital budget committee;
     (c) One member from each caucus of the senate, selected by the president of the senate, from the membership of the parks, fish, and wildlife committee;
     (d) One member from each caucus of the senate, selected by the president of the senate, from the membership of the ways and means committee.
     (3) The staff for the committee will be provided by the office of program research and senate committee services.
     (4) The committee will report to the legislature by December 31, 2003, with its recommendations in the form of draft legislation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act expires January 1, 2004.