SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5683

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

     Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, March 3, 1999

Title:  An act relating to funding Puget Sound salmon recovery.

Brief Description:  Creating the Puget Sound foundation to facilitate salmon recovery funding.

Sponsors:  Senators Jacobsen, Swecker, T. Sheldon, Oke, Fraser, Eide, Rossi and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  2/11/99, 3/3/99 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5683 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Morton, Oke, Rossi, Snyder, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff:  David Johnson (786-7754)

Background:  Salmon recovery efforts are under contemplation and underway by a number of private and governmental organizations.  It is believed that a nonprofit foundation would promote private and public investment, in a unified manner, to aid in salmon recovery.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A nonprofit foundation is established to collect and distribute private money for the purposes of salmon habitat preservation and restoration in the Puget Sound area.  The foundation is governed by a board of 18 directors, four of whom are legislators.

The foundation may receive money from private sources.  Detailed criteria for the distribution of funds by the foundation are set out.

The foundation will consult with state agencies when inventorying habitat.

The foundation hosts an annual conference regarding salmon habitat.  Progress reports must be filed with the Governor every two years.

The law expires June 30, 2009, although the foundation continues to exist after expiration.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute removed the authority of the foundation to deal with public funds and requires the foundation to consult with state agencies.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This would be an efficient and effective approach to salmon restoration.  The foundation could attract many private donations that a government agency could not.

Testimony Against:  The foundation shouldn=t be limited to Puget Sound; the foundation should be able to help salmon statewide.  The foundation should be specified as a community foundation and should make use of challenge grants.  The foundation will be duplicative in some ways.

Testified:  Diane Ellison, Columbia/Pacific RC&D (con); Steve Robinson, NW Indian Fisheries Commission; Don Stuart, Washington Association of Constricted Districts; Tom Cowan, PSAT.