BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to state parks; and adding a new chapter to Title 79A RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) State parks are a valuable asset to the people of the state of Washington, contributing to their health, education, and well-being;

(2) Well maintained state parks are an attraction and contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the state of Washington;

(3) Well maintained state parks encourage the appreciation of the natural resources and natural beauty of the state of Washington;

(4) There is an increasing demand for more state parks and more state parks services;

(5) There are individuals and groups who desire to contribute to the continued vitality of the state parks system;

(6) Providing a tax-deductible method for individuals and groups to contribute is an effective way of increasing available funds to improve the state parks system; and

(7) It is in the public interest to create a nonprofit foundation to provide such a method for individuals and groups to contribute to the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of the state parks system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The purpose of the Washington state parks gift foundation is to encourage monetary gifts to support and improve the state parks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Foundation" means the Washington state parks gift foundation, created in section 4 of this act.

(2) "State parks" means that system of parks administered by the commission under this title.

(3) "Eligible grant recipients" includes any and all of the activities of the commission in carrying out the provisions of this title.

(4) "Eligible projects" means any project, action, or part of any project or action that serves to preserve, restore, improve, or enhance the state parks.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) By September 1, 2000, the governor shall file articles of incorporation in accordance with the Washington nonprofit corporation act, chapter 24.03 RCW, to establish the Washington state parks gift foundation. The foundation shall not be an agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state and shall not disburse public funds.

(2) The foundation shall have a board of directors consisting of seven members. Members of the board shall be appointed by the governor and collectively have experience in business, charitable giving, outdoor recreation, and parks administration. Initial appointments shall be made by September 30, 2000.

(3) Members of the board shall serve three-year terms, except for the initial terms, which shall be staggered by the governor to achieve a balanced mix of terms on the board. Members of the board may serve up to a maximum of three terms. At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve until a successor has been appointed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) As soon as practicable, the board of directors shall organize themselves and the foundation suitably to carry out the duties of the foundation, including achieving federal tax-exempt status.

(2) The foundation shall actively solicit contributions from individuals and groups for the benefit of the state parks.

(3) The foundation shall develop criteria for guiding themselves in either the creation of an endowment, or the making of grants to eligible grant recipients and eligible projects in the state parks, or both.

(4) A competitive grant process shall be conducted at least annually by the foundation to award funds to the state parks. Competitive grant applications shall only be submitted to the foundation by the commission. The process shall be started as soon as practicable. Grants shall be awarded to eligible projects consistent with the criteria developed by the foundation and shall be available only for state parks use on eligible projects.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Money provided to the state parks by the foundation shall not be used to supplant preexisting funding sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 79A RCW.