OLYMPIA — The state Parks and Recreation Commission would become the state Parks and Recreation Department under a bill introduced by a North Olympic Peninsula representative.
House Bill 2373, introduced by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege on Thursday, renames the commission and requires that its director be appointed by the governor.
Van De Wege, D-Sequim, also introduced a bill that allows the annual Discover Pass, which costs $30 fee and is required for visits to state parks, to be transferable between two vehicles.
A day pass can be purchased for $10.
Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, introduced similar legislation.
Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, introduced legislation last week that would require small battery manufacturers to participate in a disposal program, which includes recycling.
Van De Wege also introduced last week a bill that would require instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for students to graduate high school.
Hargrove introduced Senate Bill 6165, which allows counties to levy a tax on specific properties for land conservation.
The proposal, called “Flexible Conservation Futures,” would change current state law, which requires county governments to tax every single property owner in a county in order to participate in the state’s Conservation Futures land conservation program.
Under the current program, a tax of up to 6.25 cents per $1,000 assessed property value can be levied to fund conservation.
Jefferson County has such a tax while Clallam County doesn’t, said Matthew Randazzo, North Olympic Land Trust development director and chairman of the Clallam County Democratic Party, who said he conceived of the idea and drafted it with Hargrove.
The bill would allow localized conservation funds.
Randazzo said that the bill has support from both Van De Wege and Tharinger, as well as Clallam County Commissioners Mike Doherty and Mike Chapman.
The land trust’s board has endorsed the bill.
Hargrove also introduced:
■ SB 6100, which updates the administration of the sexual assault grant programs.
■ SB 6135, authorizing a peace officer to detain a person in order to check their identity and check for outstanding warrants regarding fish and wildlife violations.
■ SB 6159, allowing business and occupation tax deductions involving dispute resolution services.
■ SB 6204, to modify community supervision provisions.
■ SB 6205, to promote the use of evidence-based practices for the delivery of services to children.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
