SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6372

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge and McCaslin; by request of Department of Natural Resources and Statute Law Committee

Correcting obsolete statutory references involving natural resources.

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 25, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Pullen, Chairman; McCaslin, Vice Chairman; Halsan, Hayner, Madsen, Nelson, Newhouse, Niemi, Talmadge.

Senate Staff:Lidia Mori (786-7418)

                  March 4, 1988

House Committe on State Government

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 5, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1979 the office of the Code Reviser began the process of cleaning up obsolete references in Washington statutes.  Legislation often devolves powers onto newly created agencies or transfers powers from one agency to another but does not amend every section to refer to the proper agency.  There are concerns that the Washington code may not be as useful to the public when it contains inaccurate references or references to agencies that do not exist. 

The Division of Forestry of the Department of Conservation and Development, the Board of State Land Commissioners, the State Forest Board, and all state sustained yield forest committees were abolished in 1957 and their powers and duties transferred to the Department of Natural Resources.  The Department also received the forestry powers and duties of the Director of Conservation and Development.  In addition, the powers of the Capital Committee under RCW 79.24.010 through 79.24.087 were transferred to the Department.  The Board of Natural Resources was directed to perform the appraisal, appeal, approval, and hearing functions.

SUMMARY:

References to obsolete agencies are corrected and replaced at the appropriate places by references to the Department or Board of Natural Resources or the Commissioner of Public Lands.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Dennis Cooper, Code Reviser; Terry Wilson, Office of the Code Reviser

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The amendments are technical and preserve the distinction between state forest board lands and state granted lands.