SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6410

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Natural Resources & Parks, February 3, 1998

Title:  An act relating to redeployment of personnel in the department of fish and wildlife.

Brief Description:  Providing for a good‑faith reorganization of the department of fish and wildlife.

Sponsors:  Senators Rossi, Snyder, Swecker, T. Sheldon, Stevens, Morton and Hargrove.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  1/30/98, 2/3/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6410 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Morton, Roach, Snyder, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Paul Mabrey (786-7412)

Background:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has determined that in order to meet the demands facing the department in resolving the imminent crisis involving threatened fish or endangered salmonid listings under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), human resource redeployment is necessary.  The department does not have enough field personnel to administer current restoration programs or new programs designed to reduce the risk of necessitating the addition of salmonid species to the ESA listing.  Administrative personnel are readily available within the department who could fill the deficit in field personnel numbers without compromising administrative efficiency.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Authority is granted to the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to begin a good-faith reorganization of the department.  The reorganization is authorized to achieve the goals of enhancement of threatened or endangered fish and wildlife species, as well as improving efficiency in the management of all wildlife species.  The director must coordinate with the Wildlife Commission when reorganization plans are developed.  The director must also confer with the Governor's office, the Department of Personnel, and the union organizations that represent employees of DFW so as to accomplish resource management in a way that is compassionate and fair to the redeployed employees, as well as to establish a channel for redeployed employees to voice issues of concern.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute replaces the phrase Amarginally effective@ with the term Anoncritical@ and does not change the meaning, purpose, or effect of the bill.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 26, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife has recognized and has begun implementation of a reorganization plan that will require redeployment of administrative personnel.  The department requests the Legislature to support the department=s efforts in the difficult area of reassigning employees.  The industry supports the bill because it will result in more DFW resources in the field where the current shortage will be alleviated.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bern Shanks, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Ed Owens, commercial fishing (pro).