Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Capital Budget Committee

HB 2134

Brief Description:  Transferring the ownership of certain real property from Washington State University to the city of Buckley.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hurst and Roach (co‑prime sponsor).

Brief Summary of Bill

$Real property owned by the Department of Social and Health Services and used by Washington State University is given to the City of Buckley.

Hearing Date:  2/26/01

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786‑7340).

Background: 

Rainier School is a Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) residential facility for developmentally disabled persons.  In 1981, the Legislature transferred cognizance and control of the part of the Rainier School property that was being used for agricultural purposes to Washington State University (WSU) for use as a dairy/forage research facility.  The portion which WSU was given use and control of did not include the school buildings or school grounds.  Actual ownership of all the real property itself, both the school and the agricultural portions, remains with the DSHS.

State law, specifically the Public Lands Act, requires the DSHS and other state agencies with institutions or residential facilities to conduct a survey of their real property every five years and transfer real property that is no longer needed for state-provided residential care, custody, or treatment purposes to an account known as the "Charitable, Education, Penal, and Reformatory Institution" (CEPRI) account.  (The one exception is when the property is being leased to a consortium of counties for use as a correctional facility.)  The Department of Natural Resources administers this account.  Property in this account may be transferred to other public agencies, such as local governments, but the Public Lands Act requires that the  transferee pay full market value, which is deposited into the CEPRI account.

Summary of Bill: 

The Board of Regents of Washington State University (WSU) must transfer ownership and control of the agricultural property at the Rainier School to the City of Buckley; there is no requirement of compensation to the Charitable, Education, Penal, and Reformatory Institution Account.  The livestock, vehicles, and other assets of the dairy/forage facility that had been on the property belong to WSU and are to be moved or disposed of by WSU.  WSU retains the records of the dairy/forage facility.  

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on 2/23/01.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.