FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 326

                                  C 527 L 87

BYRepresentatives Grant, Nealey, Kremen, Bristow, McLean, Rayburn, Braddock, Rasmussen, Madsen, Prince, Holm and Miller

Requiring two and one-half percent of the department of ecology's appropriation from the water quality account to be transferred to the state conservation commission.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Senate Committee on Agriculture

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1986, the legislature established the Water Quality Account in the state treasury to receive revenues from certain taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products, and components or ingredients of water pollution control facilities or activities.  Monies deposited in the account are subject to appropriation and are administered by the Department of Ecology.  State law establishes limitations on the department's total distribution of funds appropriated from the account during the period beginning July 1, 1987, and ending June 30, 1995.  One of those limitations is that not more than 2.5 percent of amounts distributed for certain point and nonpoint water pollution control activities may be transferred by the department to the State Conservation Commission for water related activities.

SUMMARY:

State law establishing limitations on the distribution of monies from the Water Quality Account during the period from July 1, 1987, to June 30, 1995, is altered.  The maximum amount which current law permits the Department of Ecology to transfer to the Conservation Commission becomes an amount that must be appropriated directly to the commission.  Not less than 10 percent of these monies appropriated to the commission may be expended for research activities.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 72  25

      Senate    45     0

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987