FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6136

                                   C 80 L 88

BYSenators Smith, DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Metcalf and Zimmerman; by request of Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Repealing authority for surcharges on nonresidents camping at state parks.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

House Committe on Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The 1979 Legislature directed the Parks and Recreation Commission to assess a surcharge on persons from other states using Washington parks.  The surcharge was to be reciprocal and charged in an amount equal to that assessed by other states against out-of-state campers.

The measure was enacted following a $2.00 per day surcharge imposed by Oregon.  Other states over the next several years began imposing surcharges on out-of-state campers.  Most of these were eastern states, but Arizona adopted a surcharge on out-of-state campers as well.

Oregon has repealed its out-of-state camper surcharge and Arizona is expected to eliminate its surcharge.  This will leave a very small portion of total out-of-state visitors from eastern states subject to Washington's surcharge.  Visitors from Oregon and Arizona represent more than 98 percent of those who come from states assessing the surcharge.

Because only 2 percent of Washington's out-of-state visitors will come from states assessing the surcharge, it may be an unnecessary administrative burden.  There also have been numerous complaints about this practice.

SUMMARY:

The requirement of a surcharge imposed on campers from states also assessing surcharges on out-of-state campers is repealed.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    43     0

      House 96   0

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988