SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5703

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1999

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, Parks & Recreation:  2/24/99, 3/1/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/99, 45-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Morton, Oke, Rossi, Snyder, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  The recreation resource account receives monies from the marine fuel tax refund account for the purpose of purchasing or improving marine recreation land.

Periodic dredging of marine recreation land is not currently an authorized expenditure from the account.

Summary of Bill:  Periodic dredging is added as an approved use for expenditures from the marine recreation account.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Without periodic dredging, some marine boat launching ramps become unusable except under extreme high tide conditions.  Existing capital investments become of limited use.

Testimony Against:  Some dredging is authorized under current law and policy of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.

Testified:  Lynn Schroder, NW Marine Trade Assn. (con).