Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Includes all land and land types managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), other than aquatic lands, for which a Discover Pass or day-use permit is required.
Exempts possessor of a daily Sno-Park permit from requiring a Discover Pass or day-use permit at designated Sno-Parks.
Modifies the validity of the Discover Pass to begin when the pass has been marked for activation.
Allows for the single purchase of a Discover Pass or Vehicle Access Pass to be valid for two license plate numbers.
Limits any transaction and dealer fee that causes the price of the Discover Pass or day-use permit to exceed the price in statute to be assessed only for those purchased through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) automated licensing system.
Allows for the Discover Pass and day-use permit to be obtained by retailers for less.
Expands the options of where a Discover Pass and day-use permit can be purchased and authorizes the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) to utilize unstaffed collection stations.
Requires free access days at state parks and suggests they be timed with National Park Service free days.
Codifies that the DNR, the WDFW, and State Parks must designate free 15-minute short-term parking.
Adds exemptions for certain circumstances from requiring the Discover Pass or day-use permit.
Adds to the types of vehicles for which the owners are given the opportunity to donate to state parks upon vehicle registration.
Creates a $10 state parks support fee on recreational vehicle registrations until July 1, 2015, and deposits the revenue into the Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account.
Creates an up to $50 Family Discover Pass that is transferable among any vehicle.
Allows tsunami cleanup to count as volunteer hours towards a free Discover Pass.
Requires the agencies to develop proposals for finding consistent state recreational policies where inconsistencies exist and to report findings to the Legislature.

Background:

The Washington State Parks system, the fourth oldest in the nation, includes 117 developed parks on over 100,000 total acres. Each year, the system sees well over 40 million visitors, with many using one of the over 2,000 modern camping sites or other overnight accommodation, holding events with use of group facilities, or simply for day-use recreation purposes.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) are charged with managing the public lands of the state. The WDFW owns or manages nearly one million acres of public land for fish and wildlife, habitat conservation, and wildlife-related recreation. The DNR protects and manages 5.6 million acres of state-owned land.

Until July 1, 2011, there was no charge to the public for access to both the DNR or the State Parks land and recreation sites. The WDFW charged $10 for the annual fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit, or the permit was provided free of charge with all hunting and fishing licenses.

The State Parks have historically been funded with varying levels of the State General Fund. In response to reductions in State General Fund support and in an effort to make the State Parks self-supporting, agency request and subsequently enacted legislation in 2011 created the Discover Pass permit as a way to increase contributions from users. In 2009 the Legislature created the Opt-Out Donation Program to support the maintenance and operation of State Parks. The donation is $5 and is made at the time an owner registers a vehicle with the Department of Licensing (DOL).

Discover Pass Permit.

The Discover Pass allows for vehicle access in designated recreational areas located on much of the state lands owned or managed by the DNR, the WDFW, and the State Parks. The Discover Pass is the only pass needed to access recreational sites such as trailheads, parking areas, winter recreation areas, boat launches, and water trails. Visitors wishing to park on state recreational lands must obtain an annual Discover Pass or a day-use permit allowing vehicle access.

The Discover Pass permit is valid for one vehicle for 12 months from the point of purchase at a cost of $30, while a day-use permit costs $10. Every four years, the Office of Financial Management must review the cost of the permits and recommend to the Legislature any adjustment to account for inflation.

A Discover Pass permit can be purchased through the DOL at the time of vehicle registration, through the WDFW's automated licensing system, over the telephone, at nearly 600 retail sporting goods and recreational license dealers, at agency headquarters in Olympia or at the actual park. Dealer and transaction fees apply in an effort to recover costs of marketing and processing permits at their full cost.

A Discover Pass or day-use permit must be visible in a vehicle. Failure to display the Discover Pass or the day-use permit is a natural resource infraction with a penalty of $99. If an annual Discover Pass is purchased within 15 days after notice of an infraction, the penalty is reduced to $59. The agencies are authorized to delegate and accept enforcement authority under the Interlocal Cooperation Act.

Exemptions.

A Discover Pass or day-use permit is not required for the following circumstances:

when camping at a state park;
when parked in a designated 30-minute short-term parking area;
for holders of certain hunting and fishing licenses on the WDFW recreation lands and water-access sites. For those individuals, a "vehicle access pass" is required for vehicle access to the WDFW lands and boat launches;
portions of the DNR land considered to not be for recreational purposes; and
persons or entities who use, possess, or enter lands owned or managed by the WDFW, the DNR, and State Parks for purposes consistent with a written authorization from the respected agency, including but not limited to leases, contracts, and easements.

State parks may be made available for access without a Discover Pass or day-use permit for up to 12 days a year.

A complimentary Discover Pass must be provided to a volunteer who performs 24 hours of service on agency-sanctioned volunteer projects in a year.

The Annual Natural Investment Permit is allowed in lieu of the Discover Pass or day-use permit at State Parks' designated boat launch sites. Similarly, the Sno-Park Seasonal permit is allowed in lieu of the Discover Pass or day-use permit at designated Sno-Parks between November 1 and March 31 of each year.

Proceeds from Discover Pass.

Revenue from the Discover Pass and day-use permits is deposited into the Recreation Access Pass Account. The first $71 million in revenue is distributed as follows:

8 percent is deposited into the State Wildlife Account (WDFW);
8 percent is deposited into the Park Land Trust Revolving Account (DNR); and
84 percent is deposited into the State Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account.

Revenue to State Parks is intended to recover the loss of State General Fund support. Each agency is allowed broad uses for their portion of the overall revenue, with proceeds generally directed towards the maintenance and operations of their respective lands.

All revenues exceeding $71 million each fiscal biennium are distributed equally amongst the agencies.

The Discover Pass and day-use permit are not considered a fee under the Recreational Immunity Statute for purposes of liability.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The definition of what is considered recreation land is expanded to specifically include all state land and state forest lands, other than aquatic, managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

A Family Discover Pass is made available for $50 and can be transferred to any vehicle.

The Discover Pass becomes valid for 12 months upon marking for activation, which may differ from when the Discover Pass is purchased. Each Discover Pass, in addition to a Vehicle Access Pass, is required to contain space for two vehicle license plate numbers to be written on the pass. No agency is permitted to refund money for either pass prior to the effective date.

Locations in which the Discover Pass and day-use permit are or may be currently available are codified, in addition to the Department of Licensing (DOL) service centers, county auditors, or other agents and subagents of the DOL. Vendors under contract with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) may purchase passes and permits at a price lower than in current statute, but must sell at the price in current statute. The State Parks is authorized to use unstaffed collection stations for fee collection. The DNR, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the State Parks have responsibility for delivering the Discover Pass to the purchaser.

Passes purchased through the WDFW's automated system must only be assessed transaction and dealer fees in an amount above that in current statute. The State Parks is required to provide 12 free access days each year and, when practicable, coordinate those days with National Park Service free days. In addition, tsunami debris cleanup volunteers are included in the volunteer voucher provisions.

Several exemptions to the requirement of a Discover Pass or day-use permit are added, including: daily Sno-Park permit holders; members of any nonprofit organization that has paid at least $250,000 to the agency to hold an event lasting at least two weekend days and that is open to the general public; and any person who has secured the ability to access specific recreation land through payment to the WDFW, the DNR, or the State Parks. Each agency must designate 15-minute short-term parking for which the Discover Pass or day-use permit is not required.

The $5 opt-out donation to the State Parks included with annual vehicle registrations is expanded to include the following vehicle types: commercial trailers, mopeds, off-road vehicles, private use single-axle trailers, trailers over 2,000 pounds, and on trucks, buses, and for-hire vehicles with a gross weight of less than 12,000 pounds.

A $10 state parks support fee is added to each recreational vehicle registration until July 1, 2015, and deposited into the State Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account. Recreational vehicles subject to the support fee include only campers, motor homes, and travel trailers.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) None.

(With concerns) There are many diverse provisions. With budget cuts this biennium and in previous biennia, some of the provisions may reduce revenue, but in an such a shortfall everything needs to be filtered in the context of what would reduce revenue. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) is very important for the success of the state parks because of its citizen outreach and the input they take in making their budget decisions. Discounts and offering the pass to vendors at less than retail would both act to reduce revenues. Despite the shortfall, revenues thus far directed to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have kept the agency's recreation land open. The fact that the Discover Pass is transferrable will serve to increase revenue and is a large concern to households who own more than one vehicle. Hunters and fishers have a long tradition of supporting our lands and last year they supported increased fees. Additional charges would be a double hit to them. Legislation should avoid price disparity in the Discover Pass at retail, and avoid removing the incentive for retailers to sell the product.

(Other) If made into a cabinet agency, the State Parks would have been subject to the mandatory reductions and almost certainly would have closed parks. The State Parks is valuable for its role in citizen input into the meetings and budgetary process. The gift card option idea should be expanded so that all Discover Passes should be made valid for 12 months with flexible starting dates. There is an assumption that campers do not buy the Discover Pass. Expanding the purchasing options should be explored, but the policy should not reduce revenues. Removal of the Vehicle Access Pass is likely to create a backlash with the hunting community. There are also concerns with the broad title of the bill.

(Opposed) The half-price off for campers may have been included with good intentions but it will not generate additional money. Reducing the costs means you have to increase sales, and the focus should instead be on eliminating exemptions and focusing discounts on needs based. The State Parks has a great background with diverse members who are out in the field and active in the state parks communities. The State Parks should remain. The public good is not served by removing the State Parks and many unique small state parks have avoided the chopping block because of the public input and access to the State Parks. Please reconsider State General Fund support for the State Parks. When you suddenly start charging for something that has for a century been free, there is inevitably going to be resistance. Let the policy have time to grow and for the agencies to work with stakeholders to improve it. Keep it simple. Do not complicate the bill and confuse the public, but instead address transferability only. Changes need to be made in order for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to be in support of the bill. The State Parks has seen dramatic budget cuts with staffing reductions, a regional office closure, and overhead. The focus needs to be on marketing and engaging the public. The State Parks provides a linkage between the public and state government.