S-0224.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5290

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Fraser, Swecker, Winsley, Fairley, Franklin, Morton, Prentice, Spanel, Jacobsen, Honeyford, Oke and Rasmussen

Read first time 01/19/1999.  Referred to Committee on Environmental Quality & Water Resources.

Changing the freshwater aquatic weeds management program by clarifying funding and creating an advisory committee.

    AN ACT Relating to the freshwater aquatic weeds management program; amending RCW 43.21A.660; and adding a new section to chapter 43.21A RCW.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 43.21A.660 and 1996 c 190 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    Funds in the freshwater aquatic weeds account may be appropriated to the department of ecology to develop a freshwater aquatic weeds management program ((to)).  Funds shall be expended as follows:

    (1) ((Issue)) No less than fifty percent of appropriated funds shall be issued as grants to cities, counties, and state agencies to prevent, remove, reduce, or manage excessive freshwater aquatic weeds.  Such grants shall only be issued for lakes, rivers, or streams with a public boat launching ramp.  The department shall give preference to projects having matching funds or in-kind services; and

    (2) No more than fifty percent of appropriated funds shall be expended to:

(a) Develop public education programs relating to preventing the propagation and spread of freshwater aquatic weeds;

    (((3))) (b) Provide technical assistance to local governments and citizen groups;

    (((4))) (c) Fund demonstration or pilot projects consistent with the purposes of this section; and

    (((5))) (d) Fund hydrilla eradication activities in waters of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.21A RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall appoint an advisory committee to oversee the freshwater aquatic weeds management program. 

    (2) The advisory committee shall include representatives from the following groups:

    (a) Recreational boaters interested in freshwater aquatic weed management;

    (b) Residents adjacent to lakes, rivers, or streams with public boat launch facilities;

    (c) Local governments; 

    (d) Scientific specialists; and

    (e) Aquatic pesticide applicators.

    (3) The advisory committee shall review and provide recommendations to the department on freshwater aquatic weeds management program activities and budget and establish criteria for grants funded from the freshwater aquatic weeds account.

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