HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1686
As Reported by House Committee On:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Appropriations
Title: An act relating to salmon recovery reform.
Brief Description: Concerning salmon recovery reform.
Sponsors: Representatives Lekanoff, Kretz, Chapman, Dent, Doglio, Barkis, Springer, Hutchins, Peterson, Reed, Stokesbary, Fey, Timmons, Robertson, Leavitt, Reeves, Ortiz-Self, Ramel and Pollet.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture and Natural Resources: 2/8/23, 2/15/23 [DP];
Appropriations: 2/21/23, 2/23/23 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Creates the Joint Salmon Recovery and Reform Committee.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 9 members:Representatives Chapman, Chair; Morgan, Vice Chair; Reeves, Vice Chair; Dent, Ranking Minority Member; Kloba, Kretz, Lekanoff, Orcutt and Springer.
Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by 2 members:Representatives Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Schmick.
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Background:

In addition to the Senate and the House of Representatives (House), the legislative branch of government consists of several legislative agencies that have been created by statute.  The legislative agencies include:

  • the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, which conducts performance audits, program evaluations, special studies, and program sunset reviews;
  • the Statute Law Committee, which publishes the Revised Code of Washington and the Washington Administrative Code, and provides a central bill-drafting service;
  • the Joint Transportation Committee, which serves as the joint fact-finding committee on transportation issues;
  • the Office of the State Actuary, which provides actuarial services relating to state retirement systems;
  • the Office of Legislative Support Services, which provides administrative and support services to the Senate, House, and other legislative agencies; and
  • the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, which provides information and technology with respect to budgets and revenue.

 

The Senate, the House, and legislative agencies each employ professional and administrative support staff.

Summary of Bill:

The Joint Salmon Recovery and Reform Committee (JSRRC) is established to review and research salmon recovery and reform programs in order to educate and promote the dissemination of salmon recovery and reform research to state and local government policymakers.  Like other agencies in the legislative branch, the JSRRC is subject to certain operational policies, procedures, and oversight deemed necessary by the Facilities and Operations Committee in the Senate and Executive Rules Committee of the House of Representatives (House).  This includes the development process of biennial budgets, contracting procedures, personnel policies and compensation plans, selection of a chief administrator, facilities, and expenditures.

 

The JSRRC is composed of legislators from both the Senate and the House.  The JSRRC Executive Committee is composed of the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate committees whose jurisdiction includes salmon recovery issues, or their designees.  Responsibilities of the Executive Committee include approving the annual work plan, adopting rules and procedures for its operations, and appointing members to the JSRRC.

 

The JSSRC cochairs are the chair of the House committee whose jurisdiction includes salmon recovery issues, or the chair's designee, and the ranking member of the Senate committee whose jurisdiction includes salmon recovery issues, or the ranking member's designee.  Members of the House and Senate standing committees with jurisdiction over salmon recovery issues and funding, including local government operations and the operating, capital, and transportation budgets, are eligible for membership on the JSRRC and must serve when appointed by the Executive Committee.  Membership may vary depending on the subject matter of oversight and research projects.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Joint Salmon Recovery and Reform Committee (JSRRC) is a bipartisan, bicameral committee that creates an opportunity for the Legislature to take a look at the impacts that the four H's meaning habitat, hydropower, hatchery, and harvest, pose to salmon and develop strategies to commit to salmon recovery.  Salmon do not see divides between Democrats, Republicans, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the executive branch.  Salmon only care about survival.  The JSRRC will help the Legislature collaborate more effectively with the executive branch.  It has been 50 years since the Boldt decision, hatcheries have existed in the state for more than 100 years, and billions of dollars have been spent on salmon recovery.  The committee slogan should be "where are the fish?"


(Opposed) None.  

Persons Testifying: Representative Debra Lekanoff, prime sponsor; and Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 28 members:Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, Vice Chair; Gregerson, Vice Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; Corry, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berg, Chandler, Chopp, Connors, Couture, Davis, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Harris, Lekanoff, Pollet, Riccelli, Rude, Ryu, Sandlin, Senn, Simmons, Slatter, Springer, Steele, Stonier and Tharinger.
Minority Report: Without recommendation.Signed by 2 members:Representatives Chambers, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Schmick.
Staff: Emily Stephens (786-7157).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources:

The substitute bill adds a null and void clause, making the act null and void if specific funding for the act is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2023.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed. ?However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There needs to be more participation from the Legislature on salmon recovery policy.  Since the Boldt decision was issued 49 years ago, the executive branch has been guiding salmon policy.  The committee established in this bill would provide an opportunity for the legislators to work with all the state agencies, tribal governments, lead entities, and others to become fully informed policymakers when it comes to salmon recovery.  The Legislature looks much different than it did in the past.  There have been more bills introduced to address salmon.  There is an opportunity to pass a bipartisan salmon recovery bill that hasn't been possible before. 

 

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Debra Lekanoff, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.