2449-S AMS ECP S5569.2

SHB 2449 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Ecology & Parks

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) A legislative joint select committee on water resources is created.  The committee shall be composed of eight members appointed as follows:

    (a) Four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, two from each political party caucus in the house of representatives; and

    (b) Four members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, two from each political party caucus in the senate.

    (2) From among its members, the committee shall elect cochairs, one who is a member of the house of representatives and one who is a member of the senate.

    (3) The committee shall examine the following subjects relating to water transfers, hydraulic continuity, and relinquishment of water rights:

    (a) Methods to encourage voluntary water rights transfers, including incentives and streamlining of administrative procedures for the approval of transfers;

    (b) Standards and procedures that should apply to different types of transfers, including temporary, permanent, and seasonal transfers, changes in the nature and location of use, and consideration of impacts to existing rights, communities in the origin of the water use, and upon streamflows;

    (c) Standards and procedures for the protection of existing rights and streamflows in considering hydraulic continuity between ground water and surface water in reviewing applications for new water uses, or water use changes or transfers; and

    (d) Standards and procedures for determining whether a water right or portion of a water right has been relinquished.

    (4) In conducting its review the committee shall provide for public comment and shall conduct its meeting in various locations around the state to facilitate public participation.  The committee shall solicit the views and technical assistance of water resource experts in water resource disciplines.

    (5) The committee shall make its preliminary recommendations to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 31, 1996, including a work plan to fully address the subjects specified in subsection (3) of this section.  The work plan shall place a priority upon addressing the water transfer subjects of subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section, followed by consideration of the subjects in subsection (1)(c) and (d) of this section within available time and resources.

    (6) The committee's final report and recommendations for legislation shall be submitted to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 31, 1997.

    (7) Staff support for the committee shall be provided by the office of program research in the house of representatives and by senate committee services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  If specific funding to the house and senate in an amount of at least thirty thousand dollars, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act shall expire December 31, 1997."

SHB 2449 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Ecology & Parks

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "management;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "creating new sections; and providing an expiration date."

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