BILL REQ. #:  S-4102.1 

Read first time 01/15/08.   Referred to Committee on Water, Energy & Telecommunications.

     AN ACT Relating to climate change research, preparation, and adaptation; and adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) While significant efforts to reduce the rate of climate change are underway in the state and throughout the nation, significant adverse impacts are likely inevitable over the course of the twenty-first century. Therefore it is in the public interest for Washington state to be actively working to both mitigate the effects of climate change as well as to prepare for the impacts that cannot be avoided. While the legislature in chapter 307, Laws of 2007, has adopted goals for reducing emissions of climate change gases, and work is underway to establish a comprehensive program to achieve these goals, there is not yet a comprehensive program to coordinate the research and information being compiled on localized impacts of climate change, and to assist local and state entities and the public generally in preparing for and adapting to such impacts.
     (2) It is the purpose of this chapter to authorize a study that will recommend the elements of such a comprehensive program of climate change research, preparation, and adaptation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of ecology.
     (2) "Institute" means the joint institute for the study of the atmosphere and ocean, within the University of Washington.
     (3) "Work group" means the work group created in section 3(2) of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Not later than November 1, 2008, the department shall report to the governor and the climate-related policy and fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives its recommendations for the creation of a comprehensive climate change research, preparation, and adaptation program.
     (2) To assist the department in preparing the report, the department shall create a work group that includes public and private sectors interests, including academic research interests, in climate-related research, planning, and response functions. The work group should include but not be limited to: The department of community, trade, and economic development; the department of natural resources; the department of fish and wildlife; the department of health; the department of agriculture; the Puget Sound partnership; the department of general administration; the state parks and recreation commission; the office of the insurance commissioner; the joint institute for the study of the atmosphere and ocean within the University of Washington; the climate and rural energy development center within Washington State University; the state climatologist; the Washington biodiversity council, created by executive order 04-02; representatives of cities, counties, and special purpose districts; and tribal governments and federal agencies.
     (3) The report shall include the following:
     (a) Recommended procedures and criteria to establish state-funded research priorities related to assessing climate change impacts and preparing for and adapting to such impacts;
     (b) Ways to ensure that the climate change impacts and adaptation data and information systems will be most effective for and accessible to relevant planning jurisdictions and the public generally;
     (c) Recommendations for delivering technical and financial assistance to local, regional, state, and other planning jurisdictions, specific to activities such as, but not limited to, infrastructure planning, human health protection, forestry and agriculture, water supply and water quality protection, and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity;
     (d) Recommendations for the range of time horizons and geographic scales to be addressed in climate impact research and analysis;
     (e) Mechanisms to ensure that climate change impact data and analyses are integrated into state and local programs and planning, including requirements for such integration when receiving state financial assistance;
     (f) Recommendations for the development of the initial phases of the program to be implemented in the 2009-2011 biennium, including identification or selection of lead agencies and development of any budget requests necessary to implement each component of this initial phase; and
     (g) Recommendations for the incorporation of climate change impacts into biodiversity conservation planning and programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The department shall provide for dissemination of the comprehensive state climate change assessment prepared pursuant to section 404, chapter 348, Laws of 2007. The department shall also compile the preparation advisory work group reports prepared pursuant to executive order 07-02 and direct them to appropriate state and local policy-making bodies for consideration of the recommendations they contain.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) The office of Washington state climatologist is created.
     (2) The office of Washington state climatologist consists of the director of the office, who is the state climatologist, and appropriate staff and administrative support as necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the office as enumerated in this section.
     (3) The director of the office must be appointed by the director of the joint institute for the study of the atmosphere and ocean within the University of Washington.
     (4) The office of Washington state climatologist has the following powers and duties:
     (a) To serve as a credible and expert source of climate and weather information for state and local decision makers and agencies working on drought, flooding, climate change, and other related issues;
     (b) To gather and disseminate, and where practicable archive, in the most cost-effective manner possible, all climate and weather information that is or could be of value to policy and decision makers in the state;
     (c) To act as the representative of the state in all climatological and meteorological matters, both within and outside of the state, when requested by the legislative or executive branches of the state government;
     (d) To prepare, publish, and disseminate climate summaries for those individuals, agencies, and organizations whose activities are related to the welfare of the state and are affected by climate and weather;
     (e) To supply critical information for drought preparedness and emergency response as needed to implement the state's drought contingency response plan maintained by the department under RCW 43.83B.410, and to serve as a member of the state's drought water supply and emergency response committees as may be formed in response to a drought event;
     (f) To conduct and report on studies of climate and weather phenomena of significant socioeconomic importance to the state; and
     (g) To evaluate the significance of natural and man-made changes in important features of the climate affecting the state, and to report this information to those agencies and organizations in the state who are likely to be affected by these changes.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.
     (2) If chapter --- ([House] [Senate] Bill No. ---), Laws of 2008 becomes law and is codified as a new chapter in Title 43 RCW, sections 1 through 5 of this act shall be codified in the same new chapter in Title 43 RCW.