HOUSE BILL REPORT

E2SSB 6380

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Barr, Talmadge, Metcalf, Benitz, Moore, Zimmerman, Hansen, Bailey, Gaspard and Kreidler; by request of Governor)

Providing for a water use efficiency study.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Baugher, Bristow, Brooks, Chandler, Doty, Grant, Holm, R. King, McLean, Moyer, Nealey and Rasmussen.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

BACKGROUND:

In 1977, the Legislature authorized the issuance of $18 million in bonds for water supply facilities required to respond to drought conditions.  The monies from the sale of the bonds were deposited in the Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account and were appropriated to the Department of Ecology for agricultural water supply and distribution projects.

In 1987, up to four million dollars of the monies reappropriated to the Department from the Account were authorized to be used to deliver water to previously irrigated lands to alleviate emergency water supply conditions.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The Water Research Center at Washington State University is directed to conduct a comprehensive study of water use efficiency and to evaluate means of achieving water use efficiency improvements.  Among the activities to be included in the study are: a review of initiatives in other states; a review of the recommendations of the Western Governors' Association; an identification of existing disincentives and potential incentives for improving the efficiency of water use; an estimation of the potential water savings and the costs of implementing various alternatives for improving water use efficiency; and recommendations concerning changes in laws, rules and programs.  No aspect of the study may authorize any interference with existing water rights.

The statutes creating the Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account are amended to permit the use of funds from the Account for conducting such a study.  $140,000 of the monies appropriated to the Department of Ecology for the current biennium from the Account are appropriated to the Center and dedicated to carrying out the study.  The funds may be used to hire personnel and to contract for necessary services.

An advisory committee is created to assist the Center in its study and the membership of the committee is outlined.  The Center must conduct public meetings concerning the study and its findings and must present preliminary findings and recommendations to the House and Senate agriculture committees.  A final report must be submitted to the House and Senate agriculture committees by December 30, 1988.  The advisory committee expires on December 31, 1988, and the provisions of the bill establishing the study and related reporting requirements expire on June 30, 1989.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ENGROSSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:  The striking amendment assigns the task of conducting the water use efficiency study to the Water Research Center at Washington State University and creates a committee to advise the Center; the engrossed second substitute creates a 21 member committee and assigns the committee the task of conducting the study.  The striking amendment appropriates to the Center $140,000 of monies currently appropriated to the Department of Ecology for use in conducting the study.  A provision of the engrossed second substitute bill which requires the study committee to make recommendations for a public education program are deleted by the striking amendment and the deadline for conducting the study is altered by the striking amendment.

Appropriation:    The sum of $140,000 of the funds currently appropriated to the Department of Ecology from the Emergency Water Projects Revolving Account is appropriated to Washington State University for use by the Water Research Center.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Hedia Adelsman, Department of Ecology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.