SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6302

              As Passed Senate, February 13, 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:  1/25/96, 1/26/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/13/96, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The members of the Forest Practices Board consist 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, he may ask for another list, and can continue to ask for lists until a name comes up that meets with the Governor's 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 of Bill:  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  The outdated language relating to the membership of the initial board appointed in 1977 is deleted. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The Governor should appoint a person of the counties' preference, not just any county elected official.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Bill Vogler, Association of Counties; Pat Hamilton, Pacific County; Bob Paylor, Grays Harbor County.