BILL REQ. #:  S-1501.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/18/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to clarifying the department of natural resources' authority to enter into cooperative agreements; and amending RCW 79.10.130.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 79.10.130 and 2003 c 334 s 540 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department is hereby authorized to carry out all activities necessary to achieve the purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and ((79.90.456,)) 79.105.050 including, but not limited to:
     (((1))) (a) Planning, construction, and operation of conservation, recreational sites, areas, roads, and trails, by itself or in conjunction with any public agency, nonprofit organization, volunteer, or volunteer organization, including entering cooperative agreements for these purposes;
     (((2))) (b) Planning, construction, and operation of special facilities for educational, scientific, conservation, or experimental purposes by itself or in conjunction with any other public or private agency, including entering cooperative agreements for these purposes;
     (((3))) (c) Improvement of any lands to achieve the purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and ((79.90.456)) 79.105.050, including entering cooperative agreements with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and volunteer organizations for these purposes;
     (((4) Cooperation with public and private agencies in the utilization of such lands for watershed purposes;
     (5))) (d) Entering cooperative agreements with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and volunteer organizations regarding the use of lands managed by the department for the purpose of providing a benefit to lands managed by the department, including but not limited to the following benefits: The utilization of such lands for watershed purposes; carrying out restoration and enhancement projects on such lands, such as improving, restoring, or enhancing habitat that provides for plant or animal species protection; improving, restoring, or enhancing watershed conditions; removing nonnative vegetation and providing vegetation management to restore, enhance, or maintain properly functioning conditions of the local ecosystem; and other similar projects on these lands that provide long-term environmental and other land management benefits, provided that the cooperative agreements are consistent with land management obligations;
     (e) Authorizing individual volunteers and volunteer organizations to conduct restoration and enhancement projects on lands managed by the department through cooperative agreements authorized in this section or other arrangements that are consistent with land management obligations and that do not require the volunteers to pay a fee for the cooperative agreement purpose;
     (f) Authorizing the receipt of gifts of personal property, services, and other items of value for the purposes of this section, as well as the exchange of consideration in cooperative agreements authorized under this section;
     (g) The authority to make such leases, contracts, agreements, or other arrangements as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and ((79.90.456)) 79.105.050. However, nothing in this section shall affect any existing requirements for public bidding or auction with private agencies or parties, except that agreements or other arrangements may be made with public schools, colleges, universities, governmental agencies, ((and)) nonprofit ((scientific and educational associations)) organizations, volunteers, and volunteer organizations. In addition, nothing in this section is intended to conflict with the department's trust obligations.
     (2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Nonprofit organization" means: (i) Any organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the internal revenue code; or (ii) any not-for-profit organization that is organized and conducted for public benefit and operated primarily for charitable, civic, educational, religious, welfare, or health purposes.
     (b) "Volunteer" or "volunteer organization" means an individual or entity performing services for a nonprofit organization or a governmental entity who does not receive compensation, other than reasonable reimbursement or allowances for expenses actually incurred, or any other thing of value, in excess of five hundred dollars per year. "Volunteer" includes a volunteer serving as a director, officer, trustee, or direct service volunteer.