SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1945

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Natural Resources & Parks, March 27, 1997

Title:  An act relating to county expenditures of revenues generated by forest board lands.

Brief Description:  Concerning foreclosed property deeded by a county for use as state forest land.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dunn and Boldt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  3/25/97, 3/27/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Roach, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources manages forest board transfer lands on behalf of 21 counties.  The department may deduct a maximum of 25 percent from the proceeds derived from timber sales and other revenue generating activities on the lands, using these moneys for administration, reforestation, and protection of forest lands.  The balance of the proceeds go to the respective counties and are distributed to various funds in the same manner as general tax dollars are distributed.

Current law provides a modification to the distribution of revenues within the counties for counties with populations of less than 9,000 people.  For a county with less than 9,000 people, the county may first apply the revenues it receives from its forest board transfer lands towards any indebtedness existing in its current expense fund.  According to 1990 U.S. Census data, Wahkiakum County and Skamania County fall under the 9,000-person population threshold, with Skamania County's population close to the threshold.

Summary of Bill:   The population threshold is increased to 16,000 people.  This allows Skamania County to continue to apply the revenue it receives from its forest board transfer lands first to any indebtedness existing in its current expense fund.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 20, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill is needed to allow Skamania County to continue the historic practice since the county is so timber dependent.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bill Vogler, Association of Counties (pro).