HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1498

BYRepresentatives Belcher, May, Rust and Fraser; by request of Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation

Changing provisions relating to the comprehensive guide to public parks and recreation sites prepared by the interagency committee for outdoor recreation.

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Belcher, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Beck, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Dellwo, Ferguson, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Myers, Raiter and Sayan.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

JANUARY 16, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1979, the Washington Legislature authorized the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) to prepare a comprehensive guide of public parks and recreation sites in the state.  The legislation required that the guide be sold at a price that would cover "reasonable production and distribution costs."

As a result of the 1979 legislation, in 1985 the IAC published the "Washington State Recreation Guide."  The 42 page, full-color guide was published and distributed by a private company, and sells for $4.95.  Sales of the guide have been slow.

In light of its experience with the 1985 guide, for future editions the IAC is considering preparing a smaller, less expensive, black and white guide that would be distributed at no charge.

However, before the IAC could distribute new guides for free, RCW 43.99.142 would have to be amended to delete the requirement that IAC sell the guides at a price that will cover costs.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation is no longer required to sell comprehensive recreational guides at a price that will pay for the guides' production and distribution costs.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Because of a 1989 law, the reference to committee is changed to director.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    The original bill:  Bob Wilder, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.  The substitute bill:  Gary Ogden, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Both the original and the substitute bill:  IAC currently has many copies of the comprehensive guide available, but finds only limited demand given its $5 selling price.  The amendment will permit IAC to sell the document at a reduced price or give it away.  The state has already recouped its production costs.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.