HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5703

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to the recreation resource account.

Brief Description:  Allowing for the use of funds to dredge marine recreation land.

Sponsors:  Senator Hargrove.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/31/99, 4/2/99 [DPA].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Allows the recreation resource account funds to be used for renovation including necessary periodic dredging.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Buck, Republican Co-Chair; Regala, Democratic Co-Chair; Anderson, Democratic Vice Chair; Sump, Republican Vice Chair; G. Chandler; Clements; Doumit; Eickmeyer; Ericksen; Pennington; Rockefeller and Stensen.

Staff:  Josh Weiss (786-7129).

Background:

The motor vehicle fuel tax is paid on all motor vehicle fuel sold in the state.  The director of Licensing is required to determine, at least once every four years, the proportion of the moneys collected from the tax which are taxed on marine fuels.  The marine fuel tax refund account is funded on a monthly basis, according to the proportion the director of Licensing has determined to be on marine fuel sales.

The recreation resource account is funded from the marine fuel tax refund account.   This account pays for the administrative and coordinative costs of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.  Additional funds are split into two shares for the benefit of watercraft recreation in the state.  The first share is used to provide grants to state agencies for the acquisition or capital improvement to marine recreation land.  Such grants may be used to secure matching funds from federal programs which are dedicated to similar projects.  The second share is used to provide grants to public bodies for the acquisition or capital improvement to marine recreation land.  A public body may use grants along with its own funds in order to secure federal matching funds for such projects.  "Public body" is defined to include counties, cities, towns, port districts, park and recreation districts, other municipal corporations, and Indian tribes recognized by the federal government for participation in the land and water conservation program.   

Summary of Amended Bill:

Moneys from the recreation resource account granted to state agencies or public bodies for the capital improvement of marine recreation land may be used additionally for periodic dredging to maintain or make a facility more useful.  Periodic dredging is limited to dredging of materials that have been deposited in a channel due to unforseen events, and must extend the expected usefulness of the facility for at least five years. 

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amended bill added a definition of periodic dredging which is limited to dredging of materials that have been deposited in a channel due to unforeseen events, and must extend the expected usefulness of the facility for at least five years.   

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None. 

Testimony Against:  None. 

Testified:  None.