VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1110-S

                   May 16, 1995

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

  The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval, Substitute House Bill No. 1110 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the department of natural resources;"

     Substitute House Bill No. 1110 amends Department of Natural Resources (DNR) statutes and the Budget and Accounting Act to require DNR to report to the legislature on the implementation of any long-term land management agreements -- such as a Habitat Conservation Plan -- between DNR and the federal government.  The bill also requires DNR to provide specific information related to these agreements along with its biennial budget.  This information would include expenditures during the previous biennium, an analysis of the impact of the agreement on state lands, and funding requirements to implement the agreement in the next biennium.

     The specific information requested by this bill is unclear and is subject to misinterpretation and misunderstanding between DNR and the legislature.  Rather than permanently amending the Budget and Accounting Act, the legislature can request that specific information be made available as part of the next biennial budget process.  Although I am vetoing Substitute House Bill No. 1110, I request the legislature to include language clarifying its intent in the final DNR 1995-97 operating budget.  This will provide the legislature with the information desired while avoiding a continuing requirement of DNR.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed Substitute House Bill No. 1110 in its entirety.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Mike Lowry

                   Governor