HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5104

BYSenate Committee on Parks & Ecology (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler and Bluechel)

Modifying provisions relating to money received by the parks and recreation commission.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Basich, Belcher, Bumgarner, Cole, R. King, Meyers, Sayan and Spanel.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Amondson, Beck, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, Schmidt, C. Smith and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Cooperating nonprofit associations supporting local, state and federal public parks have been a significant source of funding and assistance for park activities.  In many jurisdictions, such nonprofit associations are authorized to publish and sell park- related interpretive, recreational, and historical literature on park premises -- the proceeds of which are used to support park activities.  In other cases, other fundraising activities -- such as cultural events -- are sponsored by the cooperating association under the supervision of park authorities, and the proceeds of such events are applied for the benefit of the parks.

Existing programs for cooperation between state park agencies and nonprofit associations are found in California and Oregon. California has nearly 100 cooperating associations at a variety of state park facilities.  Presently, the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission lacks explicit authority to enter agreements with such nonprofit cooperating associations for the purpose of raising funds for the support of state park facilities.  Under the general management authority granted to metropolitan park districts in the state of Washington, such activities are presently under way by local governmental jurisdictions in the state -- such as the cooperating societies supporting the development and activities of the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma and the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission is authorized to provide for the publication and sale in state park facilities of interpretive materials and literature; the proceeds from which are to be placed in a parks improvement account.  All monies received from the sale of such literature and materials placed in the account may be spent only for the development, production, and distribution costs associated with the literature and for park facility improvements approved through the appropriation process. The account is subject to the allotment procedure for budgeting set forth in Chapter 43.88 RCW.  Funds from the account for the purpose of providing further materials and literature may be spent directly by the director of the Parks and Recreation Commission, but any monies to be used for other capital or operating purposes must be allocated through legislative appropriation.

The Parks and Recreation Commission is further empowered to provide for fundraising activities by private nonprofit groups using state park facilities solely for the purpose of providing gifts and grants to the commission.  Park agency personnel and services may provide support for such fundraising activities. None of the funds raised may provide any benefit to the nonprofit group, except in its status as a public user of the park facilities.  Both the agency and the nonprofit group shall agree on the nature of any park project to be supported by the funds raised by any activity; the agreement to be reached prior to undertaking such fundraising activity.  The Parks and Recreation Commission may accept gifts from private nonprofit groups in the form of recreational facilities, money, labor, and materials.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Mike Reed, Parks & Recreation Commission; Dave Push, National Park Service.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    In other states and in national parks, private non-profit groups have sold products with the proceeds benefitting parks.  In Washington, this would be a method to fund desired park projects by selling memorabilia.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.