SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5647

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Parks, Fish & Wildlife, March 3, 2003

Title: An act relating to the parks and recreation commission.

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

Sponsors: Senator Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 2/24/03, 3/3/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Esser, Jacobsen, Morton, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff: Kari Guy (786-7437)

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

Testimony For: There are some undeveloped sites on State Parks land that could be developed for gravel or mineral deposits. State Parks must have the ability to authorize a long-term lease to encourage private entities to commit to site development. Revenues from the leases will be used to support State Parks.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Fred Romero, Larry Fairleigh, State Parks (pro).