S-209                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3379

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Fleming, Hansen, Goltz, Bauer, Rasmussen, Metcalf, Barr, Bailey, Hayner, Deccio and Zimmerman

Read first time 1/28/85 and referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AN ACT Relating to the state conservation commission; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The state conservation commission and the conservation districts of the state have the responsibility under chapter 89.08 RCW to plan and carry out programs for the protection of the natural, renewable resources of the state.  The legislature recognizes the state's responsibility for the conservation of natural, renewable resources by establishing a matching grant program for conservation districts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) There is appropriated from the general fund to the state conservation commission for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this section and section 1 of this act.

          (2) The moneys appropriated by this section shall be administered as described in chapter 89.08 RCW and shall be used as matching grants to implement cost-effective activities identified in conservation district long-range programs including, but not limited to, programs for erosion control, stream corridor environment, water quality and irrigation water management, prime agricultural land conservation, woodlot improvement, and range management.

          (3) Not less than ten projects state-wide shall be funded under the matching grant program established by this section and section 1 of this act.  Criteria for providing grant moneys under this program shall be adopted by the state conservation commission by rule.