HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1488

                       As Passed House

                       March 10,  1997

Title:  An act relating to the Puget Sound action team.

Brief Description:  Requiring the commissioner of public lands to be on the Puget Sound action team.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by  Representatives Chandler, Linville, L. Thomas, Sheldon, Schoesler, Veloria, McMorris and Honeyford).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/6/97, 2/10/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/10/97, 65‑30.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Parlette, Vice Chairman; Schoesler, Vice Chairman; Linville, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Delvin; Koster; Mastin and Sump.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Cooper and Regala.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:  The Puget Sound Action Team was created by statute in 1996.  Among the tasks and authorities of the action team are: preparing a Puget Sound work plan and budget, coordinating, monitoring and researching programs and permit requirements, identifying and resolving policy or rule conflicts, amending periodically the Puget Sound management plan, promoting public participation, and improving efficiency in requirements for reports and documentation.

The action team consists of the chair of the action team, from the office of the Governor; the directors of the Departments of Ecology, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, and Community, Trade, and Economic Development; the secretaries of Health and Transportation; the directors of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation; the administrative officer of the Conservation Commission; one person representing cities; and one person representing counties.

State law designates the commissioner of Public Lands as the administrator of the Department of Natural Resources.  The commissioner appoints the supervisor of the department with the advice and consent of the Board of Natural Resources.  The supervisor is charged with the direct supervision of the activities of the department, as delegated by the commissioner.

Summary of Bill:  The membership of the action team is altered.  The director of the Department of Natural Resources is replaced by the commissioner of Public Lands.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  (1) The action team is intentionally made up of department heads, not designees.  Those who drafted the bill creating the action team wanted its members to be the people who could make decisions for the agencies involved without having to get approval from some higher level of management.  (2) Coordinating the actions of the agencies involved requires coordination at the highest level of each agency.

Testimony Against:  The supervisor of the Department of Natural Resources is the agency=s supervisor and has the delegated authority needed to make decisions for the department.  The current supervisor views the other department heads as her peers.

Testified:  Representative Chandler, prime sponsor; and Tim Smith, Pacific Northwest Oyster Growers Association (in favor).  Kaleen Cottingham, Department of Natural Resources (opposed).