Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
HB 2045
Brief Description: Creating an adopt a fish barrier program.
Sponsors: Representatives Waters, Chapman, Timmons, Harris and Reeves.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes legislative authorities of local governments to enact "adopt a fish barrier" programs.
  • Requires local governments to coordinate with the Recreation and Conservation Office on several aspects of adopt a fish barrier programs, including donor recognition.
Hearing Date: 1/17/24
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Background:

The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) administers several grant programs for numerous boards and councils to create outdoor recreational opportunities, protect the state's wildlife habitat and farmland, and assist salmon recovery efforts.


The statewide Adopt-A-Highway Program is a roadside cleanup program administered by the Department of Transportation (WSDOT).  Through the program, volunteers adopt a section of highway by agreeing to take care of it for two to four years.  The WSDOT installs signs giving recognition to the group or individuals adopting the highway, provides safety training and equipment, and picks up the bags of litter left along the roadside by the volunteers.  Local governments also have authority to enact local Adopt-A-Highway Sign programs as long as they are not inconsistent with state or federal law.
Summary of Bill:

Adopt a Fish Barrier Program Establishment.
Local government legislative authorities may enact "adopt a fish barrier" programs and accept money or property donated to the local government for the purpose of fish barrier removal.  If a local government receives a property donation, the recipient local government may determine the value of the donated property for the purpose of recognizing fish barrier removal donations.  

 

To the extent feasible, local governments must coordinate donations with any grant applications for state funding of fish barrier removal with the goal of expediting the removal of fish passage barriers.  The RCO must publish and maintain a list of fish barrier removal projects suitable for receiving private donations.


Signage and Donor Recognition.
Upon completion of a project, the local government receiving a private donation of at least $10,000 for the project must install a clearly marked sign that acknowledges individual donors.  To do this, the local government must notify the RCO, who must gather information regarding the project sponsors, location, species affected, and the amounts of individual donations that supported the project.  

 

The signs must be of a uniform design that is approved by the RCO, and only include the names of project donors, the species affected by the project, and the words "adopt a fish barrier."  The donors' names may not be displayed more predominantly than the remainder of the sign message.  Trademarks or business logos may be used.  If there are multiple donors and the number of donors with interfere with the signage requirements, the local government may determine the number of donors listed on the sign but must endeavor to recognize the donors that provide the largest donations.  

 

For individual donations of at least $100,000, the RCO must provide a recognition plaque to the donor that is signed by the Governor and includes the name of the donor, the words "adopt a fish barrier program," the location and name of the project funded, the amount and year of donation, and the fish species affected.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 10, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.