Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks Committee

HB 2108

Brief Description: Concerning the interagency committee for outdoor recreation.

Sponsors: Representative Appleton.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Restricts the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) from prohibiting or limiting a public body from receiving grant funds for a project solely because the public body received grant funds from another local, state, or federal source.
  • Authorizes a public body to use a grant from other sources as matching funds when applying for a grant from the IAC for projects that benefit watercraft recreation.

Hearing Date: 3/1/05

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) administers several grant programs using moneys from a variety of funding sources including state general obligation bonds, federal funds, and dedicated funds. Grant programs include the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Nonhighway and Offroad Vehicle Account, the Boating Facility Program, the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, and several other outdoor recreation grant programs.

Under Washington Administrative Code 286-13-080, the IAC has adopted a rule requiring that state grants provided through the IAC are intended to supplement the existing capacity of a sponsor and are not intended to supplant programs, or to reimburse the cost of projects that would have been undertaken without state matching money. In addition, the rule states that the IAC will not approve the disbursement of funds for a project when otherwise reimbursable activities have been undertaken before a project agreement has been executed

The Recreation Resource Account is funded from the marine fuel tax refund account. The account pays for the administrative costs of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC). Moneys in the account are split into two equal shares for the benefit of watercraft recreation in the state.

Summary of Bill:

The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) may not prohibit or limit a public body from receiving grant funds for a project solely because the public body received grant funds from another local, state, or federal source.

A public body may use a grant as matching funds when applying for a grant from the IAC for projects that benefit watercraft recreation, regardless of the source or administration of the matching funds.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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