Washington § 76.48.011 - Declaration of public interest.

(1) It is in the public interest of this state to protect an important natural resource and to provide protection to the landowners of the state of Washington from the theft of specialized forest products.

(2) To satisfy this public interest, this chapter is intended to:

(a) Provide law enforcement with reasonable tools;

(b) Reasonably protect landowners from theft;

(c) Ensure that requirements are not unduly burdensome to those harvesting, transporting, possessing, and purchasing specialized forest products;

(d) Craft requirements that are clear and readily understandable; and

(e) Establish requirements that are able to be administered and enforced consistently statewide.

Finding—Intent—2009 c 245: "(1) The legislature finds that the specialized forest products work group created pursuant to section 2, chapter 392, Laws of 2007 produced a number of consensus recommendations to the legislature as to how the permitting requirements of chapter 76.48 RCW can be improved. In making recommendations, the work group focused on the goals enumerated in RCW 76.48.011.

(2) It is the intent of the legislature to enact those recommendations contained in the report submitted to the legislature from the specialized forest products work group in December 2008 that require statutory modifications.

(3) It is also the intent of the legislature for the department of natural resources, along with other state and local agencies, to take those administrative actions necessary to execute the recommendations contained in the report that do not require statutory changes. When taking administrative actions regarding specialized forest products, those actions should, when appropriate, be conducted consistent with recommendations contained in the report submitted to the legislature from the specialized forest products work group." [ 2009 c 245 s 1.]