HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHCR 4430

BYHouse Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Representatives Nelson, Barnes, P. King, Sutherland and Spanel)

Creating a joint select committee on nuclear affairs.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (14)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Barnes, Brooks, Gallagher, Hankins, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, Meyers, Miller, Sutherland, Unsoeld and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Nuclear issues can be complicated and require detailed examination to assure proper public protection and accurate public information.  The legislature, as a direct representative of the public, should have a means to identify and become involved in an in-depth manner in nuclear issues determined to be of significance to state citizens.

SUMMARY:

A joint committee on nuclear affairs is created to monitor and air nuclear issues.  The committee will consist of eight members appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.  The membership shall consist of two members from the majority caucus and two members from the minority caucus of each house and each member within a house shall be from a different congressional district.  The committee will be chaired jointly by a member of each majority caucus.  Staff support shall be provided by the energy and utilities committees of the House and Senate subject to approval of the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee and the House Executive Rules Committee.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Sarah McCoy, Puget Sound SANE.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The public needs the facts on important nuclear issues.  The public is concerned over a number of nuclear issues, especially the cleanup of defense radioactive waste on the Hanford Reservation.  This committee could have an effect in expediting the cleanup.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.