By Representative Taylor

NOT ADOPTED 4/2/2015

On page 226, beginning on line 15 of the amendment, strike all of section 7023 and insert the following:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7023.  "JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS. (1)(a) The joint select committee on the transfer of public lands is established, with members as provided as follows:

(i) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two members from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives; and

(ii) The president of the senate shall appoint two members from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.

(b) The committee shall choose its chair or cochairs from among its membership.

(2) The committee shall, with guidance from other interested parties and stakeholders, prepare proposed legislation:

(a) Creating a public lands commission assigned with:

(i) Administering the transfer of title of public lands to the state from the United States; and

(ii) Addressing the management of public lands and the management of multiple uses of public lands, including addressing managing open space, access to public lands, local planning, and the sustainable yield of natural resources on public lands;

(b) Making a determination of, or creating a process for determining, interests, rights, or uses related to:

(i) Easements;

(ii) Geothermal resources;

(iii) Grazing;

(iv) Mining;

(v) Natural gas;

(vi) Oil and other fossil fuels;

(vii) Recreation;

(viii) Rights of entry;

(ix) Special uses;

(x) Timber;

(xi) Water; or

(xii) Other natural resources or other resources; and

(e) Determining what constitutes "expenses incident to the sale of public lands" from "net proceeds." For purposes of this section, "net proceeds" means the proceeds from the sale of public lands, after subtracting expenses incident to the sale of the public lands.

(3) The joint select committee on the transfer of public lands shall also study and determine whether to prepare proposed legislation related to:

(a) An administrative process for:

(i) The United States to extinguish title to public lands; or

(ii) The state to receive title to public lands from the United States;

(b) Establishing a prioritized list of management actions for the state and the political subdivisions of the state to perform on public lands to preserve and promote the state's interest in:

(i) Protecting public health and safety;

(ii) Preventing catastrophic wild fire and forest insect infestation;

(iii) Preserving watersheds;

(iv) Preserving and enhancing energy and the production of minerals;

(v) Preserving and improving range conditions; and

(vi) Increasing plant diversity and reducing invasive weeds on range and woodland portions of the public lands;

(c) Establishing procedures and requirements for subjecting public lands to property taxation; and

(d) Establishing other requirements related to national forests, national recreation areas, or other public lands administered by the United States.

(4) The joint select committee on the transfer of public lands also may study any other issue related to public lands as determined by the commissioner and the attorney general.

(5) The joint select committee on the transfer of public lands shall:

(a) Make preliminary reports on the study and preparation of proposed legislation required under this section to the legislature, consistent with RCW 43.01.036:

(i) By June 30, 2016; and

(ii) By October 31, 2016; and

(b) Deliver a final report containing findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, by January 1, 2017.

(6) Staff support for the joint select committee on the transfer of public lands must be provided by the house of representatives office of program research and senate committee services.

(7) Legislative members of the joint select committee on the transfer of public lands must be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.

(8) The expenses of the joint select committee on the transfer of public lands must be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Committee expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.

(9) This section expires June 30, 2017."

Correct the title.

EFFECT: Replaces research conducted by staff from the appropriate legislative committees of existing studies and available literature, and establishes a Joint Select Committee on Transfer of Public Lands to consider matters and propose legislation related to the extinguishment and transfer of federal title to the state.

FISCAL IMPACT: No net change to appropriated levels.