BILL REQ. #:  S-0501.2 

Read first time 01/13/2005.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to a conservation futures levy; and amending RCW 84.34.230.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 84.34.230 and 1995 c 318 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) For the purpose of acquiring conservation futures as well as other rights and interests in real property pursuant to RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220, a county may levy an amount not to exceed ((six and one-quarter)) twelve and one-half cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation against the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the county. The limitations in RCW 84.52.043 shall not apply to the tax levy authorized in this section.
     (2)(a) Of the amount levied by a county under subsection (1) of this section that is in excess of six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars, at least one-half shall be used to acquire conservation easements on farm and agricultural land or purchase the development rights to farm and agricultural land. Such acquisition of a conservation easement or purchase of development right shall be made in a way to retain the long-term farm and agricultural use of the land.
     (b) An amount levied by a county under subsection (1) of this section that is in excess of six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars and that is not used under (a) of this subsection, may be used in accordance with RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220.