04/27/1996 01:20 PM House FIN

  SENATE BILL 278                                                              
                                                                               
       "An  Act relating to the authority of the Department of                 
       Natural  Resources to  allow  credits  against fees  at                 
       state historical parks."                                                
                                                                               
  TERRY  OTNESS,  STAFF, SENATOR  ROBIN  TAYLOR, testified  in                 
  support  of  SB 278.   He  stated  that the  legislation was                 
  introduced to address concerns raised  by the Ketchikan area                 
  State Parks Advisory Board and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough                 
  Assembly.  SB  278 would  provide a mechanism  by which  the                 
  Division of Parks  and Outdoor Recreation could  acquire two                 
  small  parcels  of  land  adjacent   to  Totem  Bight  State                 
  Historical Park.                                                             
                                                                               
  SB 278 would allow DNR to offer credits against fees paid by                 
  commercial   tour  operators  for   payments  made   to  the                 
  municipality for  projects which would assist  in mitigating                 
  or alleviating  access, congestion and  parking problems  at                 
  historical parks.                                                            
                                                                               
  In response to  Representative Brown's question, Mr.  Otness                 
  capsulized how the money would be spent.   In the first year                 
  funds generated would be utilized as partial  payment to the                 
  Ketchikan Borough for the land.                                              
                                                                               
  JIM  STRATTON,  DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  PARKS  AND  OUTDOOR                 
  RECREATION, DEPARTMENT  OF NATURAL  RESOURCES (DNR),  added,                 
  the  base amount  received  in 1995  would  not be  "dropped                 
  income terms" made to the State.                                             
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report SB 278 out of Committee with                 
  individual recommendations and  with the accompanying fiscal                 
  note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                          
                                                                               
  SB  278  was reported  out  of  Committee with  a  "do pass"                 
  recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the Department                 
  of Natural Resources dated 2/21/96.