FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5104

                                  C 225 L 87

BYSenate Committee on Parks & Ecology (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler and Bluechel)

Modifying provisions relating to money received by the parks and recreation commission.

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

House Committe on Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Cooperating nonprofit associations supporting local, state and federal public parks have been a significant source of funding and assistance for park activities.  In many jurisdictions, such nonprofit associations are authorized to publish and sell park- related interpretive, recreational and historical literature on park premises, the proceeds of which are used to support park activities.  In other cases, other fundraising activities, such as cultural events, are sponsored by the cooperating association, under the supervision of park authorities, and the proceeds of such events are applied for the benefit of the parks.

Existing programs for cooperation between state park agencies and nonprofit associations are found in California and Oregon, the former having nearly 100 cooperating associations at a variety of California state park facilities.  The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission lacks explicit authority to enter agreements with nonprofit cooperating associations to raise funds for state park facilities.  Under the general management authority granted to metropolitan park districts in the state of Washington, activities are presently under way by local governmental jurisdictions, such as the cooperating societies supporting the development and activities of the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma and the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

SUMMARY:

The Parks and Recreation Commission is authorized to provide for the publication and sale in state park facilities of interpretive materials and literature, the proceeds to be placed in a parks improvement account.  All monies received from the sale of literature and materials placed in the account may be spent only for the development, production and distribution costs associated with the literature and for park facility improvements approved through the appropriation process.  The account is subject to the allotment procedure for budgeting set forth in Chapter 43.88 RCW.  Funds for providing further materials and literature may be spent directly by the director of the Parks and Recreation Commission, but any monies to be used for other capital or operating purposes must be allocated through legislative appropriation.

The Parks and Recreation Commission is empowered to provide for fundraising activities by private nonprofit groups using state park facilities solely for the purpose of providing gifts and grants to the Commission.  Park agency personnel and services may provide support for such fundraising activities. None of the funds raised may inure to the private benefit of the nonprofit group, except in its status as a public user of the park facilities.  Both the agency and the nonprofit group shall agree on the nature of any park project prior to undertaking a fundraising activity.  The Parks and Recreation Commission may accept gifts from private nonprofit groups in the form of recreational facilities, money, labor and materials.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    46     0

      House 58  36

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987