HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1993

As Reported by House Committee On:

Fisheries, Ecology & Parks

Title: An act relating to increasing the term for leasing in undeveloped parks or parkway land.

Brief Description: Authorizing the parks and recreation commission to rent certain undeveloped land for a term of forty years.

Sponsors: Representatives Cooper, Sump, Berkey and Hinkle.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Fisheries, Ecology & Parks: 2/28/03 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Cooper, Chair; Sump, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buck, Hatfield, O'Brien, Pearson and Upthegrove.

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The State Parks and Recreation Commission is charged with the care, control, and supervision of all state parks. Certain powers and duties are established in statute, including the authority to enter into agreements to rent undeveloped park land for grazing, agricultural, or mineral purposes for a term of not more than 10 years.

Summary of Bill:

The State Parks and Recreation Commission may enter into agreements to rent undeveloped park land for grazing, agricultural, or mineral purposes for a term of not more than 40 years.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: State Parks is primarily interested in this statutory change to proceed with potential mineral rights development in Eastern Washington. By changing the lease term restriction to 40 years, the policy will be consistent with the Department of Natural Resources. State Parks has a 140 acre site with high quality gravel deposits. The flexibility to enter into a long-term agreement is necessary for a private operator to acquire permits and develop the site. The potential income to the Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account is approximately $1 million to $2 million per year, but is probably three to four years away.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Fred Romero and Larry Fairleigh, State Parks and Recreation Commission.