HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5063
As Passed House:
April 10, 2021
Title: An act relating to the expiration date of the invasive species council.
Brief Description: Concerning the expiration date of the invasive species council.
Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, Salomon, Van De Wege and Warnick; by request of Recreation and Conservation Office.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources: 3/17/21, 3/24/21 [DP];
Appropriations: 4/1/21 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 4/10/21, 97-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Extends the expiration date of the Washington State Invasive Species Council and Invasive Species Council Account.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 15 members:Representatives Chapman, Chair; Shewmake, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Dent, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Fitzgibbon, Klicker, Kloba, Kretz, Lekanoff, McEntire, Morgan, Orcutt, Ramos, Schmick and Springer.
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 33 members:Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, Vice Chair; Gregerson, Vice Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Corry, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Caldier, Chandler, Chopp, Cody, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Hansen, Harris, Hoff, Jacobsen, Johnson, J., Lekanoff, Pollet, Rude, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Steele, Stonier, Sullivan and Tharinger.
Staff: Dan Jones (786-7118).
Background:

The Washington State Invasive Species Council (Council) was created by statute in 2006 to provide policy-level direction, planning, and coordination to prevent the spread and introduction of invasive species throughout the state.  Members of the Council include representatives from federal, state, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and other nongovernment interests.  Staff support for the Council is provided through the Recreation and Conservation Office.  

 

The 2006 legislation also created the Invasive Species Council Account (Account), which may receive appropriations, gifts, grants, and donations.  Account funds may only be used to carry out the purposes of the Council.  


The Legislature established an initial December 31, 2011, expiration date for the Council.  In 2011, and again in 2016, the Legislature reauthorized the Council and associated Account.  The Council and associated Account expire on June 30, 2022.
Summary of Bill:

The expiration date of the Washington State Invasive Species Council and Invasive Species Council Account is extended to June 30, 2032.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources):

(In support) Invasive species could cause a damaging $1.3 billion impact to Washington's economy.  The Invasive Species Council (Council) serves an important role in helping various agencies and organizations coordinate to prevent the spread of invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels, feral swine, and "murder hornets" at a minimal cost to the state.  Zebra mussels could cause immense damage to pipes and dams.  The recent hornet outbreaks in Whatcom County have caused damage in the agricultural industry.  The Council takes the lead on multi-jurisdictional projects, including the successful invasive mussel exercise in Lake Roosevelt.  Washington has been a model of invasive species prevention and control in the region.  If invasive mussels took hold, they would compete for food with native aquatic species, impacting endangered salmon, and invasive hornets destroy honeybee nests.


(Opposed) None.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) The Invasive Species Council (Council) is housed at the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, and this is agency-request legislation.  Invasive species have negative economic, environmental, and health impacts.  Should invasive species take hold in the state, they could cause over $1 billion in losses in a single year.  The Council has leveraged over $1 million in funds for invasive species prevention, and still has work to do.  The Council provides important coordination to help prevent impacts of invasive species in the state, for example, helping the Department of Agriculture address the "murder hornet" outbreak in northwest Washington, and funding vessel check stations to prevent the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels.  Keeping quagga and zebra mussels out of Washington waters as long as possible will save millions of dollars, because invasive mussels would plug up irrigation systems and hydroelectric infrastructure.  

 

(Opposed) None. 
Persons Testifying (Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources): Senator Honeyford, prime sponsor; Justin Bush, Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, Invasive Species Council; Shaun Seaman, Chelan County Public Utility District; and Raelene Gold, League of Women Voters of Washington.
Persons Testifying (Appropriations): Senator Honeyford, prime sponsor; Justin Bush, Washington Invasive Species Council; and Shaun Seaman, Chelan County Public Utility District.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources): None.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.