SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5439

BYSenators Owen, Metcalf, Patterson and Stratton

Designating department of natural resources as agency for surveys and maps and creating surveys and maps account in the general fund.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 19, 1987; March 3, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5439 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; DeJarnatt, Vice Chairman; Barr, Craswell, McDonald, Metcalf, Patterson, Stratton.

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

                  March 3, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Surveys and Maps program of the Department of Natural Resources is funded from the proceeds of survey record sales and from filing fees received by counties for recording survey maps.  These revenues are placed in a separate surveys and maps account which also includes fees from general photo and map sales under the Department's Photo and Map program.  Revenue from survey records sales and the county collected fee of $15 per record do not fully support the Surveys and Maps program, and additional support is needed to maintain the current level of the program.

The state base mapping program was established in 1973 and at that time, the Department was designated as the central agency for state surveys and state mapping, although other departments also conduct some survey and mapping activities related to their specific agency requirements.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Natural Resources rather than the Department's Division of Engineering Services is designated as the agency responsible for surveys and maps.  The funds in the surveys and maps account are placed in the general fund.  The surveys and maps account is renamed the photos and maps account and will receive only the receipts from general photo and map sales.  Purposes of this more limited account are for the Photo and Map Sales program and the state base mapping system.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The substitute bill designates the Department of Natural Resources rather than the Division of Engineering Services of the Department as the agency responsible for surveys and maps.  The Department shall supervise the distribution and sale of maps, map data, photographs and publications which the Department may have.  The existing recording fee of $15 which is collected by each county is eliminated and the fee will be set by the Board of Natural Resources.  The provision that ten percent of the fee is credited to the county and 90 percent is credited to the surveys and maps account of the general fund is eliminated.  All funds set by the Board will be placed in the survey and maps account.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Pat McElroy, Department of Natural Resources; Don Semrau, Survey Advisory Board; Bill Thompson, Land Surveyors Association of Washington