Title 79A — Title 79A PUBLIC RECREATIONAL LANDS

The definitions in this section apply throughout this title unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Commission" means the state parks and recreation commission.(2) "Chair" means the member of the commission elected pursuant to RCW 79A.05.025.(3) "Director" and "directo…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …

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 Dece…

In addition to whatever other duties may exist in law or be imposed in the future, it is the duty of the commission to:(1) Implement integrated pest management practices and regulate pests as required by RCW 17.15.020;(2) Take steps necessary to control spartina and purple looses…

(1) The commission shall elect one of its members as chair. The commission may be convened at such times as the chair deems necessary, and a majority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.(2) The lease of parkland or property for a period exceeding 20 years re…

The commission shall:(1) Have the care, charge, control, and supervision of all parks and parkways acquired or set aside by the state for park or parkway purposes.(2) Adopt policies, and adopt, issue, and enforce rules pertaining to the use, care, and administration of state park…

(1) The commission shall:(a) Manage timber and land under its jurisdiction to maintain and enhance aesthetic and recreational values;(b) Apply modern conservation practices to maintain and enhance aesthetic, recreational, and ecological resources; and(c) Designate and preserve ce…

In addition to other duties the commission may from time to time impose, it is the duty of the director to:(1) Ensure the control of weeds in parks to the extent required by RCW 17.04.160 and 17.10.205; and(2) Participate in the operations of the environmental enhancement and job…

(1) The commission shall provide waste reduction and recycling information in each state park campground and day-use area.(2) The commission shall provide recycling receptacles in the day-use and campground areas of at least forty state parks. The receptacles shall be clearly mar…

(1) The commission shall establish a policy and procedures for supervising and evaluating community restitution activities that may be imposed under *RCW 70A.200.060(3) including a description of what constitutes satisfactory completion of community restitution.(2) The commission…

The commission may:(1) Study and appraise parks and recreational needs of the state and assemble and disseminate information relative to parks and recreation;(2) Make provisions for the publication and sale of interpretive, recreational, and historical materials and literature. P…

The state parks education and enhancement account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the sale of Washington state parks and recreation commission special license plates, after the deductions permitted by RCW 46.68.425, must be deposited into the a…

(1) The parks improvement account is hereby established in the state treasury.(2) The commission shall deposit all moneys received from the sale of interpretive, recreational, and historical literature and materials in this account. Moneys in the account may be spent only for dev…

(1)(a) The commission shall grant to any person who meets the eligibility requirements specified in this section a senior citizen's pass which shall: (i) Entitle such a person, and members of his or her camping unit, to a fifty percent reduction in the campsite rental fee prescri…

The commission may:(1) Make rules and regulations for the proper administration of its duties;(2) Accept any grants of funds made with or without a matching requirement by the United States, or any agency thereof, for purposes in keeping with the purposes of this chapter; accept …

No provision of law relating to the commission shall prevent the commission from delegating to the director such powers and duties of the commission as they may deem proper.[ 1999 c 249 s 306; 1969 ex.s. c 31 s 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.061.]Notes:Severability—1999 c 249: See note fo…

The state parks and recreation commission is hereby authorized to lease the use of such areas in Mount Spokane state park, Steptoe Butte state park, Kamiak Butte state park or any other state park for television stations as the commission may decide are suitable for that purpose:…

The commission shall determine the fair market value for television station leases based upon independent appraisals and existing leases for television stations shall be extended at said fair market rental for at least one period of not more than twenty years: PROVIDED, That the …

(1) The commission, in consultation with the department of archaeology and historic preservation, may permit commercial advertising on or in state parks lands and buildings when all the following conditions and standards are met with regard to the commercial advertising:(a) It co…

Persons over the age of sixty-five are exempt from any permit or other administrative fee imposed by the commission for the collection of wood debris in state parks, if such wood is for personal use.[ 1983 c 193 s 1. Formerly RCW 43.51.065.]

The commission may receive and accept donations of lands for state park purposes, and shall be responsible for the management and control of all lands so acquired. It may from time to time recommend to the legislature the acquisition of lands for park purposes by purchase or cond…

The commission may receive in trust any money donated or bequeathed to it, and carry out the terms of such donation or bequest, or, in the absence of such terms, expend the same as it may deem advisable for park or parkway purposes.Money so received shall be deposited in the stat…

Inasmuch as the value of land with standing timber is increasing and will continue to increase from year to year and no loss will be caused to the common school fund or other fund into which the proceeds of the sale of any land held by the state would be paid by postponing the sa…

The commissioner of public lands may, upon his or her own motion, and shall, when directed so to do by the commission, withdraw from sale any land held by the state and not acquired directly from the United States with reservations as to the manner of sale thereof and the purpose…

The commission shall develop and maintain a cross-state trail facility with appropriate appurtenances.[ 2018 c 279 s 1; 2009 c 338 s 1; 2006 c 160 s 1; 1999 c 301 s 1; 1996 c 129 s 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.112.]Notes:Effective date—2009 c 338: "This act is necessary for the immediat…

(1) To facilitate completion of a cross-state trail under the management of the parks and recreation commission, management and control of lands known as the Milwaukee Road corridor shall be transferred between state agencies as follows on the date a franchise agreement is entere…

(1) The department of transportation shall negotiate one or more franchises with rail carriers to establish and maintain a rail line over portions of the Milwaukee Road corridor owned by the state between Ellensburg and Marengo. The department of transportation may negotiate such…

(1) The cross-state trail account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Eleven million five hundred thousand dollars is provided to the state parks and recreation commission to acquire, construct, and maintain a cross-state trail. This amount may consist of: (a) Legis…

All state parks and parkways, subject to the provisions of this chapter are set apart and dedicated as public parks and parkways for the benefit and enjoyment of all the people of this state.[ 1965 c 8 s 43.51.120. Prior: 1921 c 149 s 6; RRS s 10946. Formerly RCW 43.51.120.]

The state parks and recreation commission may grant permits to individuals, groups, churches, charities, organizations, agencies, clubs, or associations to improve any state park or parkway, or any lands belonging to the state and withdrawn from sale under the provisions of this …

Any such individual, group, organization, agency, club, or association desiring to obtain such permit shall make application therefor in writing to the commission, describing the lands proposed to be improved and stating the nature of the proposed improvement.[ 1999 c 59 s 3; 198…

If the state parks and recreation commission determines that the proposed improvement will substantially alter a park, parkway, or parkland, it shall require the applicant to submit detailed plans and specifications of the proposed improvement, which, as submitted, or as modified…

If the commission determines it necessary, the applicant shall execute and file with the secretary of state a bond payable to the state, in such penal sum as the commission shall require, with good and sufficient sureties to be approved by the commission, conditioned that the gra…

(1) Designated officers, employed by the commission, shall be vested with police powers to enforce the laws of this state:(a) Within the boundaries of any state park, including lands owned, managed, or comanaged by the commission under lease or other agreement;(b) In winter recre…

When physical injury to a person or substantial damage to property occurs, or is about to occur, within the presence of an officer of the commission designated with police powers pursuant to RCW 79A.05.160, the designated officer is authorized to take such action as is reasonably…

(1) Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:(a) Cuts, breaks, injures, destroys, takes, or removes any tree, shrub, timber, plant, or natural object in any park or parkway except in accordance with such rules as the commission may prescribe; or(b) Kills, or pursues with inten…

(1) Before entering into any contract for the construction of or replacement of any bridge on land controlled by the commission, the director must consider whether to require the installation of informational signs that address the hazards of diving or jumping off the bridge as p…

(1) Any lands owned by the state parks and recreation commission, which are determined to be surplus to the needs of the state for development for state park purposes and which the commission proposes to deed to a local government or other entity, shall be accompanied by a clause…

Whenever the commission finds that any land under its control cannot advantageously be used for park purposes, it is authorized to dispose of such land by the method provided in this section or by the method provided in RCW 79A.05.170. If such lands are school or other grant land…

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commission may directly dispose of up to ten contiguous acres of real property, without public auction, to resolve trespass, property ownership disputes, and boundary adjustments with adjacent private property owners. R…

Actions under this chapter are subject to the notification requirements of RCW 43.17.400.[ 2007 c 62 s 11.]Notes:Finding—Intent—Severability—2007 c 62: See notes following RCW 43.17.400.

Before the director of parks and recreation presents a proposed exchange to the parks and recreation commission involving an exchange of state land pursuant to this chapter, the director shall hold a public hearing on the proposal in the county where the state lands or the greate…

To encourage the development of the Puget Sound country as a recreational boating area, the commission is authorized to establish landing, launch ramp, and other facilities for small pleasure boats at places on Puget Sound frequented by such boats and where the commission shall f…

(1) Prior to transferring ownership of a commission-owned vessel, the commission shall conduct a thorough review of the physical condition of the vessel, the vessel's operating capability, and any containers and other materials that are not fixed to the vessel.(2) If the commissi…

(1) Following the inspection required under RCW 79A.05.187 and prior to transferring ownership of a commission-owned vessel, the commission shall obtain the following from the transferee:(a) The purposes for which the transferee intends to use the vessel; and(b) Information demon…

(1) By September 1, 1997, the commission shall increase the area available for use by recreational metal detectors by at least two hundred acres.(2) Beginning September 1, 1998, and each year thereafter until August 31, 2003, the commission shall increase the area of land availab…

(1) The commission shall develop a cost-effective plan to identify historic archaeological resources in at least one state park containing a military fort located in Puget Sound. The plan shall include the use of a professional archaeologist and volunteer citizens.(2) Any parklan…

The powers, functions, and duties heretofore exercised by the department of fish and wildlife, or its director, respecting the management, control, and operation of the following enumerated tidelands, which are presently suitable for public recreational use, are hereby transferre…

The state parks and recreation commission may take appropriate action to provide public and private access, including roads and docks, to and from the tidelands described in RCW 79A.05.200.[ 2000 c 11 s 33; 1967 ex.s. c 96 s 2. Formerly RCW 43.51.250.]

(1) The department of natural resources and the commission shall have authority to negotiate sales to the commission, for park and outdoor recreation purposes, of trust lands at fair market value.(2) The department of natural resources and the commission shall negotiate a sale to…