Z-656                 _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1710

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives K. Wilson, Beck, Ferguson and Sayan

Read first time 2/3/89 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

AN ACT Relating to contracts or leases of tidelands, shorelands, or beds of navigable waters; and amending RCW 79.90.370.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 43, chapter 21, Laws of 1982 1st ex. sess. and RCW 79.90.370 are each amended to read as follows:

          All contracts of purchase of tidelands or shorelands belonging to the state, otherwise permitted under RCW 79.94.150 to be sold, and all leases of tidelands, shorelands, or beds of navigable waters belonging to the state issued by the department of natural resources shall be assignable in writing by the contract holder or lessee((.  The assignee shall be subject to the provisions of law applicable to the purchaser, or lessee, of whom he is the assignee, and shall have the same rights in all respects as the original purchaser, or lessee, of the lands)), but only if the assignment is first approved by the department, which approval will not be reasonably withheld, and entered upon the records in the office of the commissioner of public lands.  In granting such approval, the department shall have the right to change the terms and conditions of the contract or lease as it affects the assignee.  The department shall also be entitled to consider, among other items, the proposed assignee's financial condition, business reputation, the nature of the proposed assignee's business, and such other factors as may reasonably bear upon the suitability of the assignee as a purchaser or user of the property.