SB 5164-S2 - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Requires the department to assist veterans enrolled in the veterans conservation corps with obtaining employment in conservation programs and projects that restore Washington's natural habitat, maintain and steward local, state, and federal forest lands and other outdoor lands, maintain and improve urban and suburban storm water management facilities and other water management facilities, and other environmental maintenance, stewardship, and restoration projects.

Requires the department to submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, on the status of the veterans conservation corps program, including the number of enrollees employed in projects, training provided, certifications earned, employment placements achieved, program funding provided from all sources, and the results of the pilot project authorized in this act.

Provides that, during fiscal year 2008, the department of veterans affairs may enter an agreement with a local government or other entity for use of veterans conservation corps enrollees in a project or projects, where the enrollees' work on the project or projects will be commenced before June 30, 2008. Up to one million dollars appropriated from the veterans conservation corps account in the biennial budget act may be expended by the department for this agreement.

Provides that, by September 30, 2007, the department shall provide to the office of financial management and to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives a report that: (1) Identifies projects on state agency-managed lands that are currently planned for veterans conservation corps enrollee participation;

(2) Identifies additional projects on state agency-managed lands that are suitable for veterans conservation corps enrollee participation and for which funding is currently in place for such participation; and

(3) Identifies additional projects on state agency-managed lands for which project implementation has been funded or is included in the agency's multibiennial stewardship plans, and that are suitable for veterans conservation corps enrollee participation in the event that additional funding is provided to the department for associated training, education, and certification.

Provides that, during calendar years 2007 and 2008 the salmon recovery funding board shall cooperate with the department of veterans affairs to inform salmon habitat project sponsors of the availability of veterans conservation corps enrollees to perform project work. From applications submitted, the board and the department shall identify projects that propose work suitable for corps enrollees and located near where enrollees are based or may be created.