H-0933.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 1406

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Basich and Bowman.

Read first time January 28, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.Creating a liaison program for oceanographic information.

     AN ACT Relating to ocean resources information; and adding a new section to chapter 43.143 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.143 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) The state of Washington is hereby authorized to participate with the states of Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and California in a joint liaison program with the center for ocean analysis and prediction of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration, with the objective of assisting the states in taking maximum advantage of the oceanographic data, products, and services available from the federal government through the center for ocean analysis and prediction.

     (2) The liaison program shall:

     (a) Assist state and local governments to become fully aware of oceanographic data and products available from the federal government and especially from the center for ocean analysis and prediction;

     (b) Assist the center for ocean analysis and prediction and the national oceanic  and atmospheric administration to become more fully aware of state and local problems  and the requirements of state and local governments; and

     (c) Assist in setting up lines of communications to move oceanographic data and products from the center for ocean analysis and prediction to the people in the states who need those data and products.

     (3) The liaison program shall include workshops for small groups of technical experts from state and local governments, academic institutions, and the private sector.  The workshops shall be held at the center for ocean analysis and prediction in Monterey, California and at other facilities in the western states as appropriate.

     (4) This section shall not become operative until at least one other state participates in the joint liaison program.

     (5) The department of ecology and the department of natural resources shall be the state representatives in the liaison program.