HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 3008

Title:An act relating to trust land transfer.  

Brief Description:Transferring certain trust lands to recreation or conservation status.   

Sponsors:Representatives Anderson, Barlean, Morris, Quall, Dunshee and Santos.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Meeting Date: February 2, 2000.       

Bill Analysis Prepared by:Josh Weiss, Counsel (786-7129)

Background:

The Trust Land Transfer Program is a mechanism to transfer school trust lands that are desirable for recreation or environmental considerations out of trust status, while reimbursing the trust for the value of the land and associated timber.  The program has been utilized since 1989 through specific appropriations in the capital budget as a means to generate additional money for school construction.

The Trust Land Transfer Program purchases lands that are difficult to manage for timber production, from the trust.  The value of the timber is deposited into the common school construction account, without actually harvesting the timber.  The value of the land is used to purchase replacement lands with more income generating potential for the trust beneficiaries, while at the same time protecting properties with significant natural, park or recreational attributes. 

Since 1989, the Trust Land Transfer Program has received $380 million in appropriations from the Legislature.  More than $310 million has gone directly toward school construction.  The Department of Natural Resources and State Parks Commission have received the majority of the land transferred to conservation status and recreation use.  Local governments have recently been authorized to receive transferred lands for recreation and conservation use.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Natural Resources is required to submit with its 2001-03 biennial capital budget request to the Governor, a proposed list of trust property to be transferred to recreation or conservation status.  The list is based on whether the properties can be managed effectively for revenue production.  The list should identify the appropriate public entity to receive ownership.

The department is responsible for establishing criteria for determining which properties are eligible for transfer.  The criteria must include: 1) land where revenue generating capacity does not justify the cost of management, 2) land upon which revenue generating capacity is constrained by state or federal law, and 3) land that is difficult to manage for revenue production because of recreational, scenic, conservation, or habitat value. 

The department must give highest priority to land on islands with a sole source aquifer.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note:     Requested January 28, 2000.

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

Rulemaking Authority: None.