H-1846.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2170

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives G. Chandler and Linville

Read first time 02/17/1999.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.

Increasing membership of the Puget Sound council.

    AN ACT Relating to membership of the Puget Sound council; and amending RCW 90.71.030.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 90.71.030 and 1996 c 138 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) There is established the Puget Sound council composed of ((nine)) eleven members.  Seven members shall be appointed by the governor.  In making these appointments, the governor shall include representation from business, the environmental community, agriculture, the shellfish industry, counties, cities, and the tribes.  ((One)) Two members shall be ((a)) members of the senate, one from each major caucus, selected by the president of the senate and ((one)) two members shall be ((a)) members of the house of representatives, one from each major caucus, selected by the speaker of the house of representatives.  The legislative members shall be nonvoting members of the council.  Appointments to the council shall reflect geographical balance and the diversity of population within the Puget Sound basin.  Members shall serve four-year terms.  Of the initial members appointed to the council, two shall serve for two years, two shall serve for three years, and two shall serve for four years.  Thereafter members shall be appointed to four-year terms.  Vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of the position being vacated.  Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed as provided in RCW 44.04.120.

    (2) The council shall:

    (a) Recommend to the action team projects and activities for inclusion in the biennial work plan;

    (b) Recommend to the action team coordination of work plan activities with other relevant activities, including but not limited to, agencies' activities other than those funded through the plan, local plan initiatives, and governmental and nongovernmental watershed restoration and protection activities; and

    (c) Recommend to the action team proposed amendments to the Puget Sound management plan.

    (3) The chair of the action team shall convene the council at least four times per year and shall jointly convene the council and the action team at least two times per year.

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