Brief Description: Funding conservation districts.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade (originally sponsored by Representatives Linville, Buri, Pettigrew and Chase; by request of Conservation Commission).

House Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development

Background:

The Conservation Commission (Commission) and 47 conservation districts administer a number of programs related to the conservation of natural resources. The Commission is authorized to use appropriated funds to make grants to conservation districts on the basis of statutory formulas. Since the inception of the program in 1989, appropriations to the Commission have resulted in annual grants of approximately $10,000 to each conservation district, which must be matched dollar for dollar.

Summary:

The Conservation Commission is authorized to adopt rules concerning eligibility and distribution of grants to conservation districts. Existing statutory formulas governing distribution of grants are repealed. The Commission must submit a report to the Legislature on the distribution of grant funds to conservation districts by September 30, 2007.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   47   0

Effective: April 13, 2005