Treasury Income Account The Treasury Income Account is used to hold the earnings of investments of surplus balances from various accounts and funds of the state treasury. Monthly, the state treasurer distributes interest earnings credited in the Treasury Income Account to the general fund.
There are specific exceptions in which the interest earnings are not distributed to the general fund but are distributed to certain listed accounts and funds based upon each account's and fund's proportionate share of the average daily balance for the monthly period.
State Parks and Recreation Commission. The State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) is the governing body of the Washington State system of parks. There are approximately 140 parks managed by the Commission for recreation, conservation, water access, boating safety, and certain other activities. Moneys from various dedicated accounts, in addition to General Fund-State appropriations, are used by the Commission for management and operations of state parks.
Parkland Acquisition Account. The Parkland Acquisition Account is an account created in the state treasury and is used to hold the value of land sold by the Commission. Any lands owned by the Commission which are determined to be surplus to the needs of the state for development for state park purposes, and which the Commission proposes to deed to a local government or other entity may be sold at fair market value and the proceeds are held in the Parkland Acquisition Account. Moneys in this account are to be used solely for the purchase or acquisition of property for use as state park property by the Commission, as directed by the Legislature. Expenditures from the account are subject to legislative appropriation.
State Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account. The State Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account is created in the state treasury. Proceeds from user fees like the Discover Pass, concessions, leases, donations, and other state park-based activities are deposited into the account and are used for operating and maintaining state parks, renovating park facilities, undertaking deferred maintenance, enhancing park stewardship, and other state park purposes. Expenditures from the account are subject to legislative appropriation.
Snowmobile Account. The Snowmobile Account is created in the state treasury. Proceeds to the account come from snowmobile registration fees, monetary civil penalties from snowmobile dealers, and snowmobile fuel tax moneys. Expenditures from the account, not to exceed 3 percent for each year, must be retained by the treasury to cover expenses incurred in the administration of the registration and fuel tax provisions of state law. The remainder of the expenditures must be for snowmobile purposes which may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the administration, acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of snowmobile facilities; and development and implementation of snowmobile safety, enforcement, and education programs. Expenditures from the account are subject to legislative appropriation.
Winter Recreational Program Account. The Winter Recreational Program Account is created in the state treasury. Proceeds from special winter recreational area parking permit fees are deposited in the account and are used for non-snowmobile winter recreation purposes including the administration, acquisition, development, operation, planning, and maintenance of winter recreation facilities; and the development and implementation of winter recreation, safety, enforcement, and education programs. Expenditures from the account are subject to legislative appropriation.
The bill adds the Parkland Acquisition, State Parks Renewal and Stewardship, Snowmobile, and Winter Recreational Program accounts to the list of accounts that receive interest earnings monthly from the Treasury Income Account, instead of having those amounts deposited in the general fund.
The Parkland Acquisition Account is changed from an account of the treasury to one held in custody of the treasury. This change makes the account a non-appropriated account, not subject to legislative appropriations. The director of the State Parks Commission, or the director's designee may direct expenditures from the account, subject to the allotment procedures under state law.
The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: We love State Parks, they need the money. The bill will give us more resources to support park management.