SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1514

  AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, APRIL 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to the Olympic natural resources center.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Kessler, Jacobsen, Basich, Jones, Holm, Sheldon and Riley)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Bauer, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Prince, Sheldon, and West.

Staff:  Scott Huntley (786-7421)

Hearing Dates: March 31, 1993; April 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Current statute provides that the Olympic Natural Resources Center will be operated under the authority of the board of regents of the University of Washington. The program is administered by a director.

An advisory committee appointed by the Governor provides guidance to the director.  Membership on the policy advisory board includes state and federal government, environmental organizations, the local community, the timber industry, and Indian tribes.

The purpose of the center is to conduct research and provide education on natural resources management approaches that integrate the maintenance of ecological values with the economic benefits of forestry.

SUMMARY:

The Olympic Natural Resources Center will be operated by a board of directors.  The board members will be appointed by the Governor and serve three-year terms.  The members of the board will represent state and federal government, environmental organizations, the local community, the timber industry, Indian tribes, marine-related interests, and the provost of the University of Washington. The center is given authority to conduct research and education throughout the region and state.

The University of Washington will provide the staff, faculty and facilities to support the operation of the center.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The members of the existing advisory board will serve initial terms on the new board of directors.  The Governor will appoint two additional members to the board which will represent marine-related interests and the provost of the University of Washington.  The university is directed to provide staff, faculty and facilities to support the center from within resources provided in the Omnibus Appropriations Act.  The effective date of the act is July 1, 1994.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested March 23, 1993

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill will expand the scope of the center.  Marine-related interests will receive attention under the new governance structure and local interests will be represented.  The regents of UW are too far removed from the local needs.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

This bill is not needed now.  The university is recognizing the need to change the direction of the center to include more local concerns.  The current governance structure has some advantages in that it can bring the resources of the university into the activities of the center.  Working with the university, the marine interests can be included and an internal modification of the governance structure can be effected.

TESTIFIED:  Representative Lynn Kessler (pro); Jennifer Belcher, Commissioner of Public Lands (con); Ross Heath, UW (con)