SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5104

BYSenators Kreidler and Bluechel

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

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1987; January 27, 1987; January 28, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5104 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Kreidler, Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Kiskaddon.

Senate Staff:Gary Wilburn (786-7453)

                  January 28, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON PARKS & ECOLOGY, JANUARY 28, 1987

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.  Presently, the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission lacks explicit authority to enter agreements with such nonprofit cooperating associations for the purpose of raising funds for the support of state park facilities.  Under the general management authority granted to metropolitan park districts in the state of Washington, such activities are presently under way by local governmental jurisdictions in the state, 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 from which are to be placed in a parks improvement account.  All monies received from the sale of such 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 from the account for the purpose of 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 further 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 to be supported by the funds raised by any activity, the agreement to be reached prior to undertaking such fundraising activity.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Authority is provided to the Parks and Recreation Commission to accept gifts from private nonprofit groups in the form of recreational facilities, to make the bill clear that labor and materials may be provided as gifts in addition to money.

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Mike Reed, Parks and Recreation; Mary Ellen Rutter, Pacific Northwest National Parks and Forest Association