READ FIRST TIME 02/10/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a statewide strategy for land acquisitions and disposal; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1)(a) The legislature finds that the 1999 public and tribal lands inventory provides a base of information to begin the development of a statewide coordinated strategy for acquisition of lands for recreation and habitat preservation and enhancement. However, updated information is needed on the amount of recent acquisitions, how they were funded, how those acquisitions could be compatible with a coordinated strategy, and how they pursue the goals of single agencies.
     (b) The legislature further finds that land acquisition decisions have long-term implications, often in perpetuity, and that some acquisitions occur outside the oversight of the legislature.
     (c) The legislature intends to establish a statewide strategy for coordination of acquisition, exchange or disposal of state agency lands for recreation and habitat preservation and enhancement, and to clarify authority for an interagency planning and coordination of that strategy.
     (2) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature and to the governor by June 30, 2005. The report shall include an inventory of recent habitat and recreational land acquisitions and a recommended statewide strategy for coordination of future acquisitions.
     (a) The inventory shall include habitat and recreational land acquisitions and disposals since 1980 by state agencies. For the purpose of this inventory, "land acquisition" means fee simple acquisition or less than a fee simple interest if that interest is for more than fifty years. Land acquisitions by state agencies include those funded by state agencies but owned by local governments. The inventory shall:
     (i) Include information about land acquisitions and disposals that involved land trading or swapping between public and private entities, and land acquisitions that were gifts;
     (ii) Specify principal use of the acquired parcels and other data compatible with the 1999 inventory;
     (iii) Specify the agency or local government acquiring or disposing of the property, the costs of the land acquisition or receipts from the disposal, the funding sources, and whether the land acquisition was funded under a legislative appropriation, an unanticipated receipt, and/or exchange of land parcels; and
     (iv) Include any additional information local governments may provide to the inventory about habitat and recreational land acquisitions by land trusts, conservancies, port districts, public utility districts, and other parties that result in the property's change to a tax exempt status.
     (b) The recommended statewide strategy for coordination of habitat and recreation acquisitions by state agencies, regardless of fund source, should be consistent with the priorities, policies and criteria of chapter 79A.15 RCW and, if not, identify what priorities, policies and goals should apply. The recommended statewide coordinated strategy should:
     (i) Ensure that land acquisition and disposal decisions are based on a determination of need for recreational and habitat lands compared to existing public lands serving those purposes in various areas of the state;
     (ii) Specify how to provide a central, interagency point of coordination to ensure that land acquisitions by state agencies, including land acquisitions funded through unanticipated receipts, are consistent with statewide priorities, policies and goals;
     (iii) Examine alternative ways to compensate local governments by spreading statewide the impact of lost tax revenues from acquisitions of property for habitat and recreation;
     (iv) Consider options for a no net gain policy in counties with large portions of existing public habitat and recreational land; and
     (v) Consider what policies, priorities, and goals may apply to the statewide coordinated strategy. The report may consider population based goals for recreation needs, changes in use of public lands, provisions for scenic areas and green ways, wildlife corridors, forest buffers, designated critical areas, local, state and federal wildlife protection plans, and multi-use functions of existing publicly owned lands.