SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5064

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

             Natural Resources, February 10, 1995

                  Ways & Means, March 6, 1995

Title:  An act relating to regional fisheries enhancement program.

Brief Description:  Revising the regional fisheries enhancement program.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen, Drew and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  1/10/95, 2/10/95 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  3/3/95, 3/6/95 [DP2S].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5064 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Hargrove, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Owen, Snyder, Strannigan and Swecker.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  Regional fisheries enhancement groups were authorized by statute in 1989 for the purpose of encouraging organized volunteer efforts to improve anadromous fish populations.  The regional groups desire additional funding, improved technical assistance, greater coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and an opportunity to generate funds through the sale of surplus salmon and salmon eggs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Regional fisheries enhancement groups are assisted in the following manner:  the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall provide engineering and technical assistance, the Department of Transportation shall assist in providing engineering services for anadromous fish migration blockages caused by roads and highways, training procedures will be developed for management of regional group funds, the Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery division shall expand the remote site incubator program in conjunction with regional groups, funds may be generated through sale of salmon carcass and eggs, the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall provide 3-1/2 FTE's for biological support staff to regional groups, regional groups are exempt from requirements of the shoreline permit process for fish habitat projects, the role of the regional group advisory board is expanded, and a $200,000 appropriation is made from the general fund.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Engineering and technical services are provided on an as available basis.  The Office of Financial Management shall work with the department and the regional group advisory board to develop accounting procedures.  The remote site incubator program shall be tested with chinook and coho salmon.  Permits for public fisheries enhancement projects shall be free of charge.  The department shall provide opportunities for the sale of salmon or salmon parts from salmon that return to regional fisheries enhancement group projects.

Appropriation:  $200,000 general fund.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 3, 1995.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  Regional fisheries enhancement groups are performing a service to the state and the fish resource and they need assistance from the department and the Legislature.

Testimony Against: The department does not desire to see the activities of the regional fisheries enhancement groups expand.

Testified:  Ed Manary, WDF&W (con); Terry Wright, NWIFC (pro); C. S. Sodhi, Chehalis Tribe (pro); Kate Marsh, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (con); Mary Nash, member, SPSSCG (pro); Don Stuart, Salmon For Washington; Bob Lake, Willapa Bay Gillnetters; Paul Parker, WA State Assoc. of Counties.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5064 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Fraser, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, McDonald, Moyer, Pelz, Roach, Sheldon, Strannigan, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Tracy Cox (786-7437)

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Transfer of $200,000 annually from carcass and egg sales to the regional fisheries enhancement group account is eliminated.  A null and void section is added.

Testimony For:  Regional fisheries enhancement groups are performing a service to the state and the fish resource, and they need reliable, steady financial assistance from the Legislature.

Testimony Against:  The department does not desire to see the activities of the regional fisheries enhancement groups expand.

Testified:  Mary Nash (pro); Ed Manary, Department of Fish and Wildlife (con).