BILL REQ. #:  H-1476.1 

Read first time 02/19/13.   Referred to Committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to state parks and recreation; amending RCW 79A.05.015, 79A.05.215, 79A.80.010, 79A.80.050, and 79A.80.090; adding a new section to chapter 79A.05 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 79A.80 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature, in recognition of the centennial of the Washington state parks system, to reaffirm the intent of the legislature as expressed in section 1, chapter 211, Laws of 1995: To stabilize the funding of the state parks system through commitment of continuing general fund support, to affirm the support of the commission form of governance, and to provide for additional improvements in the funding and operation of state parks and recreation. The legislature recognizes that the Washington state parks and recreation commission needs to generate revenues from nonrecreation usages of state parks resources at market rates, and from recreation usages at reasonable rates, but that the adequate maintenance and operation of the state parks system requires that there be an ongoing commitment of general government resources sufficient to secure the future of the state parks system.

Sec. 2   RCW 79A.05.015 and 1999 c 249 s 201 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby created a "state parks and recreation commission" consisting of seven citizens of the state. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate and shall serve for a term of six years, expiring on ((December 31st)) June 30th of ((even)) odd-numbered years, and until their successors are appointed. In case of a vacancy, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the commissioner whose office has become vacant.
     In making the appointments to the commission, the governor shall choose citizens who understand park and recreation needs and interests. No person shall serve if he or she holds any elective or full-time appointive state, county, or municipal office. Members of the commission shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and in addition shall be allowed their travel expenses incurred while absent from their usual places of residence in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     Payment of expenses pertaining to the operation of the commission shall be made upon vouchers certified to by such persons as shall be designated by the commission.

Sec. 3   RCW 79A.05.215 and 2011 c 320 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state parks renewal and stewardship account is created in the state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all receipts from user fees, concessions, leases, donations collected under RCW 46.16A.090(3), and other state park-based activities shall be deposited into the account. The proceeds from the recreation access pass account created in RCW 79A.80.090 and the transfers from the state general fund pursuant to section 8 of this act must be used for the purpose of operating and maintaining state parks. Expenditures from the account may be used for operating state parks, developing and renovating park facilities, undertaking deferred maintenance, enhancing park stewardship, and other state park purposes. Expenditures from the account may be made only after appropriation by the legislature.

Sec. 4   RCW 79A.80.010 and 2012 c 261 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Agency" or "agencies" means the department of fish and wildlife, the department of natural resources, and the parks and recreation commission.
     (2) "Annual natural investment permit" means the annual permit issued by the parks and recreation commission for the purpose of launching boats from the designated state parks boat launch sites.
     (3) "Camper registration" means proof of payment of a camping fee on recreational lands managed by the parks and recreation commission.
     (4) "Day-use permit" means the permit created in RCW 79A.80.030.
     (5) "Discover pass" means the annual pass created in RCW 79A.80.020.
     (6) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 46.04.320 and which are required to be registered under chapter 46.16A RCW. "Motor vehicle" does not include those motor vehicles exempt from registration under RCW 46.16A.080 and state and publicly owned motor vehicles as provided in RCW 46.16A.170.
     (7) "Recreation site or lands" means a state park, state lands and state forest lands as those terms are defined in RCW 79.02.010, natural resources conservation areas as that term is defined in RCW 79.71.030, natural area preserves as that term is defined in RCW 79.70.020, and fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads.
     (8) "Sno-park seasonal permit" means the seasonal permit issued by the parks and recreation commission for providing access to winter recreational facilities for the period of November 1st through March 31st.
     (9) "Vehicle access pass" means the pass created in RCW 79A.80.040.
     (10) "Washington state parks license plate" means the special license plate recognizing Washington state parks approved in RCW 46.18.200.

Sec. 5   RCW 79A.80.050 and 2012 c 261 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A discover pass or a day-use permit are not required within a state park for persons who have a valid camper registration, or annual natural investment permit, issued by the state parks and recreation commission, or for vehicles displaying a Washington state parks license plate.
     (2) The state parks and recreation commission must provide up to twelve days a year where entry to state parks is free. At least three of those days must be on weekends. When practicable, the free access days should be timed to correspond with any similar free access days planned by the national park service for national parks located in the general region of high volume state parks.

Sec. 6   RCW 79A.80.090 and 2011 c 320 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The recreation access pass account is created in the state treasury. All moneys received from the sale of discover passes and day-use permits must be deposited into the account.
     (2) Each fiscal biennium, the first seventy-one million dollars in revenue from the sales of discover passes and day-use permits must be distributed to the agencies in the following manner:
     (a) Eight percent to the department of fish and wildlife and deposited into the state wildlife account created in RCW 77.12.170;
     (b) Eight percent to the department of natural resources and deposited into the park land trust revolving fund created in RCW 43.30.385; and
     (c) Eighty-four percent to the state parks and recreation commission and deposited into the state parks renewal and stewardship account created in RCW 79A.05.215.
     (3) Each fiscal biennium, revenues in excess of seventy-one million dollars must be distributed equally among the agencies to the accounts identified in subsection (2) of this section.
     (4) Revenues transferred to the account from the state general fund pursuant to section 8 of this act must be distributed in the same proportion as sales revenue is distributed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 79A.05 RCW to read as follows:
     On September 1st of each year, the state treasurer shall transfer from the state general fund to the state parks renewal and stewardship account an amount equal to the campsite rental fees and reservation fees foregone pursuant to RCW 79A.05.065 during the immediately preceding fiscal year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   A new section is added to chapter 79A.80 RCW to read as follows:
     On September 1st of each year, the state treasurer shall transfer from the state general fund to the recreation access pass account an amount equal to the sales of discover passes and day-use permits during the immediately preceding fiscal year. These general fund matching funds must be distributed to the department of fish and wildlife, the department of natural resources, and the state parks and recreation commission in the same manner and in the same proportions as the sales revenues would be distributed as provided in RCW 79A.80.090.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   This act may be known and cited as the state parks and recreation centennial act.