FINAL BILL REPORT
SB
6302
FULL VETO
As Passed Legislature
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.
Senate Committee on Natural Resources
House Committee on Natural Resources
Background: The membership of the Forest Practices Board consists of 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, and an elected member of a county legislative authority appointed by the Governor. In addition, six members of the general public are appointed by the Governor, one representing an ownership of not more than 500 acres of forest land and one who is an independent lobbying contractor.
At the present time, the Washington Association of Counties submits a list of county legislative authority members to the Governor that the association supports for appointment to the Forest Practices Board. If the Governor does not like the association's preference, the Governor may ask for another list, and can continue to ask for lists until a name comes up that meets with the his or her approval. It was the Legislature's intent that the appointment of a county legislative authority member to the Forest Practices Board be derived from a list preferred by the Washington State Association of Counties. To make this clear, a modification of statutory authority is necessary.
Summary: The elected member of a county legislative authority appointed by the Governor comes exclusively from one list of three persons provided by the Washington State Association of Counties. The outdated language relating to the membership of the initial board appointed in 1977 is deleted.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate 46 0
House 94 0