SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6211

              As Passed Senate, February 15, 2000

Title:  An act relating to the access road revolving fund.

Brief Description:  Concerning the use of access road revolving fund moneys.

Sponsors:  Senator T. Sheldon.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  1/31/2000, 2/2/2000 [DP-WM].

Passed Senate, 2/15/2000, 36-12.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources collects $13.45 per 1,000 board feet of timber from purchasers which is placed in a revolving fund which is used to build and maintain state forest roads.  The fund was created in 1963 and is being used to establish a statewide system of forest roads.  The fund now receives about $9 million a year.

The monies are collected by the department at the time of sale and are placed in a special fund.  They are in addition to the regulatory management fee that the department charges for its management of state trust and county trust lands.  The present fund is dispersed without legislative appropriation.

Summary of Bill:  The access road revolving fund is distributed after appropriation by the Legislature.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 25, 2000.

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

Testimony For:  The Legislature needs to take a closer look at how the department is using these funds.

Testimony Against:  The account should remain unappropriated so the department can deal with emergency situations.

Testified:  PRO:  Bob Dick, NW Forestry Assn.; Glen Wiggens, City of Port Angeles; Rod Fleck, City of Forks; Phillip Kitchel, Olympic Resources Co.; Paul Silver, DNR (con).