H-3427              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2748

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Sayan, Belcher and Brough

Read first time 1/19/90 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

AN ACT Relating to publicly owned tidelands; and adding new sections to chapter 79.94 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 79.94 RCW to read as follows:

          The state contains extraordinary tideland resources that provide numerous public benefits, including public recreation opportunities, shellfish habitat, and wildlife values.  The legislature recognizes that past policies of tideland sales have fragmented these important public resource lands.  In order to provide for an improved pattern of public ownership, the legislature directs that appropriate state agencies initiate efforts to acquire suitable tidelands that will provide significant public benefits.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 79.94 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The department of natural resources and the parks and recreation commission each shall identify existing public tidelands that would be enhanced by the state's acquisition of adjacent tidelands.

          (2) The above agencies shall notify appropriate private nonprofit entities of their desire to acquire these tidelands and encourage these entities to purchase suitable upland properties that contain tidelands.  The agencies, subject to legislative appropriation or other available funds, shall then seek to purchase the tidelands portion of the property from the private nonprofit entity.

          (3) Other state agencies, such as the department of wildlife and the department of fisheries, with an interest in purchasing such tidelands for the public benefit, may use the procedure in sections 1 through 3 of this act for purchasing tidelands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 79.94 RCW to read as follows:

          Before a county offers to sell publicly owned tidelands to private interests, the tidelands shall first be offered for sale to state agencies.  Within one year  after notification to state agencies that such property is for sale the property may be offered for sale to private parties.