Brief Description: Concerning the management of public lands.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette and Fraser).

Hearing Date: 2/21/06

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Legislature enacted Chapter 263, Laws of 2004 (SSB 6242), directing the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) to report to the Legislature and the Governor by June 30, 2005, regarding public acquisition of habitat and recreational lands. In June 2005, the IAC submitted the final report titled Toward a Coordination Strategy for Habitat and Recreation Land Acquisitions in Washington State. The report includes recommendations for improving coordination, communication, and documentation of habitat and recreation land acquisition.
One requirement of the report directed the IAC to include recommendations for a statewide strategy for coordinating habitat and recreation acquisitions by state agencies.

Summary of Bill:

The Habitat and Recreation Lands Coordinating Group (Coordinating Group) is established with representatives from the IAC, the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition, representatives from appropriate stakeholder organizations and local government must be considered for participation in the Coordinating Group.

The Coordinating Group must develop recommendations and procedures for the statewide coordination of habitat and recreation land acquisitions. The recommendations must include language to amend agency land acquisition, management, and disposal plans to help provide statewide coordination. In addition, the Coordinating Group must develop standards for producing an interagency biennial forecast of habitat and recreation land acquisitions and disposals.

The Coordinating Group must also develop a recommended standard for interagency GIS documentation of habitat and recreation lands, standardize recordkeeping, and identify a preferred process for centralized acquisition data.

The IAC must review the planning requirements in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to determine if coordination of habitat and recreation land acquisition and disposal could be improved. The IAC must also develop options for centralizing coordination of habitat and recreation land acquisitions made with federal grants.   

The Coordinating Group must provide yearly progress reports to the Office of Financial Management or the Director of the IAC.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 20, 2006.

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