HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6302

                      As Passed House:

                      February 28, 1996

Title:  An act relating to appointment of a county legislative authority member of the forest practices board.

Brief Description:  Revising provision for appointment of a county legislative authority member of the forest practices board.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, A. Anderson, Owen, Snyder, Swecker, Fraser, Morton and Hargrove.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/23/96 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  2/28/96, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Elliot; Hatfield; Keiser; Sheldon; Stevens; B. Thomas and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  The state's forest practices rules are adopted by the Forest Practices Board.  The board is composed of 11 members, as follows:  the Commissioner of Public Lands or designee; the Director of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development or designee; the Director of the Department of Agriculture or designee; the Director of the Department of Ecology or designee; six public members appointed by the Governor, to include an owner of not more than 500 acres of forest land and an independent logging contractor; and an elected member of a county legislative authority.  The county legislative authority member is also appointed by the Governor.

Summary of Bill:  When appointing the county legislative authority member of the Forest Practices Board, the Governor must select an appointee exclusively from one list of three persons provided by the Washington State Association of Counties.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Historically, the practice has been for the Governor to select a person from a list provided by the association.  If this person is going to represent counties, the choice should be made from the counties' list.  This will ensure that counties with timber interests are represented on the board.  We are not trying to tie the Governor's hands, but we are trying to offer a thoughtful process for appointing this member.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Commissioner Pat Hamilton, Pacific County; and Bill Vogler, Washington State Association of Counties (both in favor).