S-3710               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4563

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Bauer, Newhouse, Hansen, Barr and Gaspard

Read first time 1/15/86 and referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AN ACT Relating to agricultural fairs; and amending RCW 36.34.145.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 36.34.145, chapter 4, Laws of 1963 and RCW 36.34.145 are each amended to read as follows:

          The ((board of county commissioners)) legislative authority of any ((class A)) first class and larger county owning property in or outside the limits of any city or town, or anywhere within the county, which is suitable for agricultural fair purposes may by negotiation lease such property for such purposes for a term not to exceed seventy-five years to any nonprofit organization that has demonstrated its qualification to conduct agricultural fairs.  Such agricultural fair leases shall not be subject to any requirement of periodic rental adjustments, as provided in RCW 36.34.180, but shall provide for such fixed annual rental as shall appear reasonable, considering the benefit to be derived by the county in the promotion of the fair and in the improvement of the property.  The lessee may utilize or rent out such property at times other than during the fair season for nonfair purposes in order to obtain income for fair purposes, and during the fair season may sublease portions of the property for purposes and activities associated with such fair.  No sublease shall be valid unless the same shall be approved in writing by the ((board of county commissioners)) county legislative authority:  PROVIDED, That failure of such lessee, except by act of God, war or other emergency beyond its control, to conduct an annual agricultural fair or exhibition, shall cause said lease to be subject to cancellation by the ((board of county commissioners)) county legislative authority.