SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6116

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Agriculture & Environment, January 20, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the Puget Sound council.

Brief Description:  Increasing membership on the Puget Sound council.

Sponsors:  Senators Fairley, Fraser and Spanel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment: 1/13/98, 1/20/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Oke and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Paul Mabrey (786-7412)

Background:  The Puget Sound Council currently consists of nine members, seven of which are appointed by the Governor, one of which is a member of the Senate, selected by the President of the Senate, and one of which is selected from the membership of the House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House. The Puget Sound Council was established to recommend (1) projects and activities for inclusion in the Puget Sound action team=s biennial work plan; (2) coordination of work plan activities with other relevant activities; and (3) proposed amendments to the Puget Sound management plan to the action team.  The council also reviews the progress of work plan implementation.

Summary of Bill: The membership of the Puget Sound Council is increased from nine members to eleven members.  One member is selected from each of the two largest Senate caucuses by the President of the Senate, and one member from each of the two largest House caucuses is selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on December 31, 1997.

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

Testimony For:   The Puget Sound Council needs to have adequate representation from both houses that effectively represents views from the major political entities of the Legislature.  This legislation will achieve a balanced legislative presence on the council that the current arrangement does not have. The Legislature is an important source of input to the council's advisory task of recommending and coordinating activities for the action team's work plan.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:   PRO: Senator Darlene Fairley, prime sponsor; Tom Cowan, Puget Sound Action Team.