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