1997-07-10                     House Journal                      Page 1959
HB 23                                                                        
The following letter, dated June 4, 1997, was received:                        
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                        
                                                                               
On this date I have signed the following bill and am transmitting the          
engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governors Office for           
permanent filing:                                                              
                                                                               
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 23(RES)                                                 
"An Act relating to management of state land; and relating to                 
access to land."                                                               
                                                                               
Chapter No. 65, SLA 1997                                                      
ªEffective Date:  September 2, 1997ß                                          
                                                                               
This bill is a marked improvement over the version of this bill I vetoed       
last year.  Many changes were made to the legislation at the behest of         
the Department of Natural Resources which recognized the legitimate            
needs of the state to protect resources, public safety and private             
landownership through responsible land management actions.                     
                                                                               
                                                                               
Although the bill would still curtail the Departments ability to               
administratively close general state lands strictly for aesthetic              
reasons, this rationale has rarely, if ever, been used for administrative      
closures. Furthermore, it is not unreasonable for this type of closure,        
or opening for that matter, to be brought to the legislature for a full        
public review and decision-making process.                                     
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
HB 26                                                                        
A message dated June 4, 1997, was received stating the Governor has            
signed the following bill and is transmitting the engrossed and enrolled       
copies to the Lieutenant Governor's office for permanent filing: