BILL REQ. #:  S-4740.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/09/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to cost recovery for the natural heritage program; amending RCW 79.71.090; and adding a new section to chapter 79.70 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 79.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In an effort to recover the service cost incurred for staff time and other expenses involved in data delivery, the program must charge either a six thousand dollar annual subscription fee or a one hundred dollar access fee per request, plus a charge of seventy-five dollars per hour rounded to the nearest half-hour to process and respond to the data request. The hourly rate applies to, but is not limited to, data analysis, technical assistance, manual searches, map interpretations, and preparing special reports.
     (2) The program may waive user charges when a data request requires less than one hour of response time or when no data is provided. All moneys collected under this section must be deposited into the natural resources conservation areas stewardship account created in RCW 79.71.090.
     (3) The department may adjust or modify the fees specified in this section as necessary to recover the service costs.
     (4) To support Washington's working forest land base, the department may provide one annual subscription as described in this section to any statewide trade association whose membership is comprised of private forest landowners to serve as the annual subscription for any of that association's members.

Sec. 2   RCW 79.71.090 and 2000 c 11 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby created the natural resources conservation areas stewardship account in the state treasury to ensure proper and continuing management of land acquired or designated pursuant to this chapter. Funds for the stewardship account shall be derived from appropriations of state general funds, federal funds, grants, donations, gifts, bond issue receipts, securities, ((and)) other monetary instruments of value, and the collection of fees charged for data delivery services under section 1 of this act. Income derived from the management of natural resources conservation areas shall also be deposited in this stewardship account.
     Appropriations from this account to the department shall be expended for no other purpose than the following: (1) To manage the areas approved by the legislature in fulfilling the purposes of this chapter; (2) to manage property acquired as natural area preserves under chapter 79.70 RCW; (3) to manage property transferred under the authority and appropriation provided by the legislature to be managed under chapter 79.70 RCW or this chapter or acquired under chapter 79A.15 RCW; and (4) to pay for operating expenses for the natural heritage program under chapter 79.70 RCW.