BILL REQ. #:  S-0479.2 

Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to addressing the threats posed by invasive species; amending RCW 79A.25.370; adding new sections to chapter 79A.25 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that invasive species, which are nonnative organisms that cause economic or environmental harm and are capable of spreading to new areas of the state, pose a great threat to the citizens, natural resources, and economy of Washington state. The state spends millions of dollars each year on a variety of efforts to prevent, control, and eradicate invasive species. In its 2008 strategic plan entitled "Invaders at the Gate," the Washington invasive species council provided several recommendations to help maximize the effectiveness of these ongoing invasive species efforts by enhancing program coordination and the flow of information among invasive species-related programs and the public. The legislature intends to facilitate the implementation of these recommendations, and to create an invasive species grant program to fund other efforts vital to the prevention, control, and eradication of invasive species in Washington.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 79A.25 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The council shall:
     (a) Develop a statewide baseline assessment of invasive species in Washington state. The assessment must consist of existing available information about invasive species and programs related to prevention, control, and eradication of invasive species. The council shall develop the assessment to allow analysis of invasive species issues, prevention, control, or eradication efforts in place, and the progress of these efforts;
     (b) Provide public access to invasive species information through an internet-based information clearinghouse. The clearinghouse must allow members of the public and other invasive species-related programs to access information and analysis from invasive species efforts statewide. The clearinghouse must also include a mechanism allowing users to provide additional invasive species information to other users and to the council for inclusion in the statewide baseline assessment; and
     (c) Conduct a targeted outreach campaign to provide information to Washington's citizens about the dangers posed by invasive species and steps that citizens can take to prevent, control, or eradicate invasive species. In conducting the outreach campaign, the council shall seek to coordinate with and complement other more specific outreach efforts already underway.
     (2) The council shall include a brief evaluation of progress made in the preceding year to carry out subsection (1) of this section in the annual report required each year under RCW 79A.25.350.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 79A.25 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The council is responsible for making grants to state and local agencies for the prevention, control, or eradication of invasive species from amounts appropriated by the legislature for these purposes. The council shall distribute these amounts to the projects and activities that it finds are the most effective investment towards addressing the invasive species issues facing the state. Projects and activities funded may include those that: Prevent the introduction of invasive species into Washington; control or eradicate invasive species already in Washington; foster cooperation, coordination, and communication regarding invasive species prevention, control, or eradication; refine and coordinate statewide capacity to identify, report, and respond to invasive species; and restore ecosystems adversely affected by invasive species. The council may use the strategic goals, recommendations, and actions included in its 2008 strategic plan entitled "Invaders at the Gate" as the basis for funding categories or project evaluation criteria or the council may choose to develop other funding categories or evaluation criteria under subsection (2) of this section.
     (2) In order to carry out subsection (1) of this section, the council may:
     (a) Provide assistance to grant applicants regarding the procedures and project evaluation criteria for grant and loan awards;
     (b) Make and execute all manner of contracts and agreements with grant recipients and with other public and private parties as the council deems necessary, consistent with the purposes of this section;
     (c) Adopt additional or alternative funding categories, project evaluation criteria, or other procedures as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, which may include guidelines for the amount of nonstate resources that must be committed for grants and guidelines that limit the amount of a grant that may be allocated for administrative expenses; and
     (d) Do all acts necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted or implied under this section.
     (3) The recreation and conservation office shall provide staff support for the grant making activities conducted by the council under this section.

Sec. 4   RCW 79A.25.370 and 2007 c 241 s 62 are each amended to read as follows:
     The invasive species council account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from appropriations, gifts, grants, and donations must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to carry out the purposes of the council and section 3 of this act. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW and the approval of the director of the recreation and conservation office is required for expenditures. All expenditures must be directed by the council.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Section 4 of this act expires December 31, 2011.