BILL REQ. #:  H-0873.1 

Read first time 02/02/2005.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to the distribution of revenue generated from state forest lands; and amending RCW 79.64.110.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 79.64.110 and 2003 c 334 s 207 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any moneys derived from the lease of state forest lands or from the sale of valuable materials, oils, gases, coal, minerals, or fossils from those lands, must be distributed as follows:
     (1) State forest lands acquired through RCW 79.22.040 or by exchange for lands acquired through RCW 79.22.040:
     (a) The expense incurred by the state for administration, reforestation, and protection, not to exceed twenty-five percent, which rate of percentage shall be determined by the board, must be returned to the forest development account in the state general fund.
     (b) Any balance remaining must be paid to the county in which the land is located to be paid, distributed, and prorated, except as otherwise provided in this section, to the various funds in the same manner as general taxes are paid and distributed during the year of payment, except that no distribution may be made to the state general fund. Revenues that would otherwise be dedicated to the state general fund must be redistributed proportionally among the other funds receiving general tax revenue.
     (c) Any balance remaining, paid to a county with a population of less than sixteen thousand, must first be applied to the reduction of any indebtedness existing in the current expense fund of the county during the year of payment.
     (d) With regard to moneys remaining under this subsection (1), within seven working days of receipt of these moneys, the department shall certify to the state treasurer the amounts to be distributed to the counties. The state treasurer shall distribute funds to the counties four times per month, with no more than ten days between each payment date.
     (2) State forest lands acquired through RCW 79.22.010 or by exchange for lands acquired through RCW 79.22.010, except as provided in RCW 79.64.120:
     (a) Fifty percent shall be placed in the forest development account.
     (b) Fifty percent shall be prorated and distributed to the state general fund, to be dedicated for the benefit of the public schools, and the county in which the land is located according to the relative proportions of tax levies of all taxing districts in the county. The portion to be distributed to the state general fund shall be based on the regular school levy rate under RCW 84.52.065 and the levy rate for any maintenance and operation special school levies. With regard to the portion to be distributed to the counties, the department shall certify to the state treasurer the amounts to be distributed within seven working days of receipt of the money. The state treasurer shall distribute funds to the counties four times per month, with no more than ten days between each payment date. The money distributed to the county must be paid, distributed, and prorated to the various other funds in the same manner as general taxes are paid and distributed during the year of payment.