BILL REQ. #:  S-0247.2 

Read first time 01/10/2005.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to the sale of logs and wood from state-owned aquatic lands; and amending RCW 79.90.245.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 79.90.245 and 2004 c 276 s 914 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) After deduction for management costs as provided in RCW 79.64.040 and payments to towns under RCW 79.92.110(2), all moneys received by the state from the sale or lease of state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from state-owned aquatic lands shall be deposited in the aquatic lands enhancement account which is hereby created in the state treasury. Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, and after appropriation, these funds shall be used solely for aquatic lands enhancement projects; for the purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for public purposes; for providing and improving access to such lands; and for volunteer cooperative fish and game projects.
     (2) In providing grants for aquatic lands enhancement projects, the department shall require grant recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their grant applications, and the department shall utilize the statement of environmental benefits in its prioritization and selection process. The department shall also develop appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used both for management and performance assessment of the grants. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. The department shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing this section.
     (3) During the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2005, the funds may be appropriated for boating safety, settlement costs for aquatic lands cleanup, and shellfish management, enforcement, and enhancement.
     (4) The department must identify moneys deposited to the account that are derived from sales of logs or other wood material from state-owned aquatic lands in which the sales were conducted for the principal purpose of deriving revenue from the sale. The treasurer must, not less than biennially, transfer moneys in the account identified under this subsection to the board of regents of the University of Washington, to be used exclusively for the operation of the Thomas Burke Memorial Museum.