FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5119

                          C 423 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Compensating members of the forest practices appeals board.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Snyder and Roach).

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  Part-time Forest Practices Appeals Board members are classified as a class 3 group and are eligible to receive compensation not exceeding $50 for each day during which they attend meetings of the group or perform statutorily prescribed duties approved by the chairperson.  No compensation is allowed if the member is otherwise a full-time employee of any other governmental unit and receives compensation for that day.  Compensation is only authorized if specifically authorized under the law dealing with the particular subgroup.

Current law gives the chairperson of the group power to determine what statutorily prescribed duties are compensable.

Presently, the board conducts an average of 48 full-day hearings per year.  Class 4 classification would require a finding by the Legislature that the board=s functions have overriding sensitivity and importance to the public welfare and operation of state government.

Summary:  The Legislature finds that the functions of the Forest Practices Appeals Board have overriding sensitivity and are of importance to the public welfare and operation of state government.

Part-time Forest Practices Appeals Board members are classified as a class 4 group compensated at an amount not to exceed $100 per day.

The director of the Environmental Hearings Office must determine what statutorily prescribed duties, in addition to attendance at a hearing or meeting of the board, merit compensation.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     97 1 (House amended)

Senate    46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1997