BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to water storage; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) There is created the task force on water storage. The purpose of the task force is to examine the role of increased water storage in providing water supplies to meet the needs of fish, population growth, and economic development, and to enhance the protection of people's lives and their property and the protection of aquatic habitat through flood control facilities. For this purpose, increased storage may be in the form of surface or underground storage or the enlargement or enhancement of existing structures. The task force shall also examine means of providing funding for increased water storage.

(2) The task force shall be composed of the following:

(a) A representative of the department of agriculture, appointed by the director of the department;

(b) A representative of the department of community, trade, and economic development, appointed by the director of the department;

(d) A representative of the department of fish and wildlife, appointed by the director of the department;

(e) A representative of the department of health, appointed by the secretary of the department;

(f) A representative of the governor's salmon recovery office, appointed by the governor;

(g) A representative of conservation districts, appointed by the Washington association of conservation districts;

(h) Two representatives of irrigation districts, one representing a district within a federal reclamation project and one representing a district that is outside of such a project, appointed by a state association of irrigation districts authorized by RCW 87.76.020;

(i) Two representatives of cities, one representing a city located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and one representing a city located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains, appointed by the association of Washington cities. Of these two representatives, one shall represent a city with a relatively large population and one shall represent a city with a relatively small population;

(j) Two representatives of counties, one representing a county located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and one representing a county located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains, appointed by the Washington state association of counties. Of these two representatives, one shall represent a county with a relatively large population and one shall represent a county with a relatively small population;

(k) A representative of a municipal water purveyor that provides residential water to a relatively large population, but that is not a division or other part of city government, appointed by the secretary of health from a list or lists of nominees submitted by state-wide associations of such purveyors;

(l) Four members of the house of representatives, two from each of the major caucuses in the house of representatives, appointed by the co-speakers of the house of representatives; and

(m) Four members of the senate, two from each of the major caucuses in the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(3) The department of ecology shall provide staff support for the task force and the director of the department of ecology shall convene the first meeting of the task force not less than thirty days after the effective date of this section.

(4) No member of the task force shall receive compensation, per diem, or reimbursement of expenses from the task force or the department of ecology for his or her activities as a member of the task force. However, each may receive such compensation, per diem, and/or reimbursement as is authorized by the entity he or she is employed by, is appointed from, or represents on the task force.

(5) Following its examination, the task force shall report its recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 31, 2000.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the department of ecology for the purposes of this act.