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ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5897
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State of Washington63rd Legislature2013 2nd Special Session

By Senate Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Pearson)

READ FIRST TIME 04/15/13.   



     AN ACT Relating to state parks; amending RCW 79A.80.020, 79A.80.030, 79A.80.080, 82.19.040, 70.93.180, and 79A.05.215; adding a new section to chapter 79A.80 RCW; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 79A.80.020 and 2012 c 261 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as otherwise provided in ((RCW 79A.80.050, 79A.80.060, and 79A.80.070)) this chapter, a discover pass is required for any motor vehicle to:
     (a) P
ark ((or operate on)) at any recreation site or lands((, except for short-term parking as may be authorized under RCW 79A.80.070)); or
     (b) Operate on any recreation site or lands
.
     (2) Except as provided in section 4 of this act, the cost of a discover pass is thirty dollars. Every four years the office of financial management must review the cost of the discover pass and, if necessary, recommend to the legislature an adjustment to the cost of the discover pass to account for inflation.
     (3) A discover pass is valid for one year beginning from the date that the discover pass is marked for activation. The activation date may differ from the purchase date pursuant to any policies developed by the agencies.
     (4) Sales of discover passes must be consistent with RCW 79A.80.100.
     (5) The discover pass must contain space for two motor vehicle license plate numbers. A discover pass is valid only for those vehicle license plate numbers written on the pass. However, the agencies may offer for sale a family discover pass that is fully transferable among vehicles and does not require the placement of a license plate number on the pass to be valid. The agencies must collectively set a price for the sale of a family discover pass that is no more than fifty dollars. A discover pass is valid only for use with one motor vehicle at any one time.
     (6) One complimentary discover pass must be provided to a volunteer who performed twenty-four hours of service on agency-sanctioned volunteer projects in a year. The agency must provide vouchers to volunteers identifying the number of volunteer hours they have provided for each project. The vouchers may be brought to an agency to be redeemed for a discover pass.

Sec. 2   RCW 79A.80.030 and 2012 c 261 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person may purchase a day-use permit to meet the requirements of RCW 79A.80.080. Except as provided in section 4 of this act, a day-use permit is ten dollars per day and must be available for purchase from each agency. A day-use permit is valid for one calendar day.
     (2) The agencies may provide short-term parking under RCW 79A.80.070 where a day-use permit is not required.
     (3) Every four years the office of financial management must review the cost of the day-use permit and, if necessary, recommend to the legislature an adjustment to the cost of the day-use permit to account for inflation.
     (4) Sales of day-use permits must be consistent with RCW 79A.80.100.

Sec. 3   RCW 79A.80.080 and 2012 c 261 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A discover pass, vehicle access pass, or day-use permit must be visibly displayed in the front windshield, or otherwise in a prominent location for motor vehicles without a windshield, of any motor vehicle ((or otherwise in a prominent location for vehicles without a windshield)):
     (a) Operating on ((a)) any recreation site or lands; or
     (b) Parking at ((a)) any recreation site or lands.
     (2) The discover pass, the vehicle access pass, or the day-use permit is not required:
     (a) O
n private lands, state-owned aquatic lands other than water access areas, or at agency offices, hatcheries, or other facilities where public business is conducted((.
     (3) The discover pass, the vehicle access pass, or the day-use permit is not required for:
     (a)
));
     (b) For p
ersons who use, possess, or enter lands owned or managed by the agencies for nonrecreational purposes consistent with a written authorization from the agency, including but not limited to leases, contracts, and easements; ((or
     (b)
)) (c) On department of fish and wildlife lands only, for persons possessing a current vehicle access pass pursuant to RCW 79A.80.040; or
     (d) When operating on a road managed by the department of natural resources or the department of fish and wildlife, including a forest or land management road, that is not blocked by a gate
.
     (((4))) (3)(a) An agency may waive the requirements of this section for any person who has secured the ability to access specific recreational land through the provision of monetary consideration to the agency or for any person attending an event or function that required the provision of monetary compensation to the agency.
     (b) Special events and group activities are core recreational activities and major public service opportunities within state parks. When waiving the requirements of this section for special events, the state parks and recreation commission must consider the direct and indirect costs and benefits to the state, local market rental rates, the public service functions of the event sponsor, and other public interest factors when setting appropriate fees for each event or activity.
     (((5))) (4) Failure to comply with subsection (1) of this section is a natural resource infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW. An agency is authorized to issue a notice of infraction to any person who fails to comply with subsection (1)(a) of this section or to any motor vehicle that fails to comply with subsection (1)(b) of this section.
     (((6))) (5) The penalty for failure to comply with the requirements of this section is ninety-nine dollars. This penalty must be reduced to fifty-nine dollars if an individual provides proof of purchase of a discover pass to the court within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice of violation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 79A.80 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By mutual agreement, the agencies may sell discounted discover passes at a rate below that established under RCW 79A.80.020 or discounted day-use permits at a rate below that established under RCW 79A.80.030 for purposes of bulk sales to retailers, agency license and permit product bundling, and partnership opportunities to expand accessibility and visibility of the discover pass and recreational opportunities on agency-managed lands.
     (2) In exercising this authority, the agencies must prioritize opportunities for discounted sales that result in a net revenue gain.

Sec. 5   RCW 82.19.040 and 2001 c 118 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) To the extent applicable, all of the definitions of chapter 82.04 RCW and all of the provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW apply to the tax imposed in this chapter.
     (2) Taxes collected under this chapter shall be ((deposited in)) distributed as follows: (a) Five million dollars per fiscal year must be deposited in equal monthly amounts to the state parks renewal and stewardship account under RCW 79A.05.215; and (b) the remainder to the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account under RCW 70.93.180.

Sec. 6   RCW 70.93.180 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 50 s 963 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is hereby created an account within the state treasury to be known as the "waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account". Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account shall be used as follows:
     (a) Fifty percent to the department of ecology, for use by the departments of ecology, natural resources, revenue, transportation, and corrections, and the parks and recreation commission, for use in litter collection programs, to be distributed under RCW 70.93.220. The amount to the department of ecology shall also be used for a central coordination function for litter control efforts statewide, for the biennial litter survey under RCW 70.93.200(8), and for statewide public awareness programs under RCW 70.93.200(7). The amount to the department shall also be used to defray the costs of administering the funding, coordination, and oversight of local government programs for waste reduction, litter control, and recycling, so that local governments can apply one hundred percent of their funding to achieving program goals. The amount to the department of revenue shall be used to enforce compliance with the litter tax imposed in chapter 82.19 RCW;
     (b) Twenty percent to the department for local government funding programs for waste reduction, litter control, and recycling activities by cities and counties under RCW 70.93.250, to be administered by the department of ecology; and
     (c) Thirty percent to the department of ecology for waste reduction and recycling efforts.
     (2) All ((taxes imposed in RCW 82.19.010)) moneys directed to the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account under RCW 82.19.040 and fines and bail forfeitures collected or received pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the ((waste reduction, recycling, and litter control)) account and used for the programs under subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) Not less than five percent and no more than ten percent of the amount appropriated into the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account every biennium shall be reserved for capital needs, including the purchase of vehicles for transporting crews and for collecting litter and solid waste. Capital funds shall be distributed among state agencies and local governments according to the same criteria provided in RCW 70.93.220 for the remainder of the funds, so that the most effective waste reduction, litter control, and recycling programs receive the most funding. The intent of this subsection is to provide funds for the purchase of equipment that will enable the department to account for the greatest return on investment in terms of reaching a zero litter goal.
     (((4) During the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account. Additionally, during the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium, subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section is suspended.
     (5) During the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account. Additionally, during the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium, subsection (1)(a), (b), and (c) of this section is suspended.
))

Sec. 7   RCW 79A.05.215 and 2011 c 320 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state parks renewal and stewardship account is created in the state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all receipts from user fees, concessions, leases, donations collected under RCW 46.16A.090(3), and other state park-based activities shall be deposited into the account. The proceeds from the recreation access pass account created in RCW 79A.80.090 ((must)) and amounts received under RCW 82.19.040 may only be used for the purpose of operating and maintaining state parks. Expenditures from the account may be used for operating state parks, developing and renovating park facilities, undertaking deferred maintenance, enhancing park stewardship, and other state park purposes. Expenditures from the account may be made only after appropriation by the legislature.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 5 through 7 of this act expire June 30, 2017.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   Sections 5 through 7 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2013.

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