AN
ACT Relating to implementing the recommendations of the joint legislative audit
and review committee report regarding capital budget programs investing in the
environment; amending RCW 79.24.580; adding a new section to chapter 43.41 RCW;
adding a new section to chapter 89.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter
90.64 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.105D RCW; adding a new section to
chapter 70.146 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 79A.15 RCW; adding a new
section to chapter 77.85 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.155 RCW;
adding a new section to chapter 77.04 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that the amount of overall requests for funding for natural
resource-related programs in the capital budget has been steadily growing. The
legislature also finds that there is an increasing interest by the public in
examining the performance of the projects and programs to determine the return
on their investments and that a coordinated and integrated response by state
agencies will allow for better targeting of resources. The legislature further
finds that there is a need to improve the data and the integration of data that
is collected by state agencies and grant and loan recipients in order to better
measure the outcomes of projects and programs. The legislature intends to
begin implementing the recommendations contained in the joint legislative audit
and review committee's report number 01-1 on investing in the environment in
order to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of these
natural resource-related programs funded in the state capital budget.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The office of financial management shall assist natural resource-related
agencies in developing outcome focused performance measures for administering
natural resource-related and environmentally based grant and loan programs.
These performance measures are to be used in determining grant eligibility, for
program management and performance assessment.
(2)
The office of financial management and the governor's salmon recovery office
shall assist natural resource-related agencies in developing recommendations
for a monitoring program to measure outcome focused performance measures
required by this section. The recommendations must be consistent with the
framework and coordinated monitoring strategy developed by the monitoring
oversight committee established in RCW 77.85.--- (section 3, Substitute Senate
Bill No. 5637, Laws of 2001).
(3)
Natural resource agencies shall consult with grant or loan recipients including
local governments, tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and other interested
parties, and report to the office of financial management on the implementation
of this section. The office of financial management shall report to the appropriate
legislative committees of the legislature on the agencies' implementation of
this section, including any necessary changes in current law, and funding
requirements by July 31, 2002. Natural resource agencies shall assist the
office of financial management in preparing the report, including complying
with time frames for submitting information established by the office of
financial management.
(4)
For purposes of this section, "natural resource-related agencies"
include the department of ecology, the department of natural resources, the
department of fish and wildlife, the state conservation commission, the
interagency committee for outdoor recreation, the salmon recovery funding
board, and the public works board within the department of community, trade,
and economic development.
(5)
For purposes of this section, "natural resource-related environmentally
based grant and loan programs" includes the conservation reserve
enhancement program; dairy nutrient management grants under chapter 90.64 RCW;
state conservation commission water quality grants under chapter 89.08 RCW;
coordinated prevention grants, public participation grants, and remedial action
grants under RCW 70.105D.070; water pollution control facilities financing
under chapter 70.146 RCW; aquatic lands enhancement grants under RCW 79.24.580;
habitat grants under the Washington wildlife and recreation program under RCW
79A.15.040; salmon recovery grants under chapter 77.85 RCW; and the public work
trust fund program under chapter 43.155 RCW. The term also includes programs
administered by the department of fish and wildlife related to protection or
recovery of fish stocks which are funded with moneys from the capital budget.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. A
new section is added to chapter 89.08 RCW to read as follows:
In
administering grant programs to improve water quality and protect habitat, the
commission shall require grant recipients to incorporate the environmental
benefits of the project into their grant applications, and the commission shall
utilize the statement of environmental benefit in its grant prioritization and
selection process. The commission shall also develop appropriate outcome
focused performance measures to be used both for management and performance
assessment of the grant program. The commission shall work with the districts
to develop uniform performance measures across participating districts. To the
extent possible, the commission should coordinate its performance measure
system with other natural resource-related agencies as defined in section 2 of
this act. The commission shall consult with affected interest groups in
implementing this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4. A
new section is added to chapter 90.64 RCW to read as follows:
In
providing grants to dairy producers, districts shall require grant applicants
to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their
applications, and the districts shall utilize the statement of environmental
benefit in their prioritization and selection process. The districts shall
also develop appropriate outcome focused performance measures to be used both
for management and performance assessment of the program. The commission shall
work with the districts to develop uniform performance measures across
participating districts. To the extent possible, the commission should
coordinate its performance measure system with other natural resource-related
agencies as defined in section 2 of this act. The commission shall consult
with affected interest groups in implementing this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. A
new section is added to chapter 70.105D RCW to read as follows:
In
providing grants to local governments, the department shall require grant
recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their
grant applications, and the department shall utilize the statement of
environmental benefit in its prioritization and selection process. The
department shall also develop appropriate outcome focused performance measures
to be used both for management and performance assessment of the grant
program. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its
performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as
defined in section 2 of this act. The department shall consult with affected
interest groups in implementing this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. A
new section is added to chapter 70.146 RCW to read as follows:
In
providing grants and loans to local governments, the department shall require
recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their
applications, and the department shall utilize the statement of environmental
benefits in its grant and loan prioritization and selection process. The
department shall also develop appropriate outcome focused performance measures
to be used both for management and performance assessment of the grant and loan
program. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its
performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as
defined in section 2 of this act. The department shall consult with affected
interest groups in implementing this section.
Sec.
7. RCW
79.24.580 and 1999 c 309 s 919 are each amended to read as follows:
After
deduction for management costs as provided in RCW 79.64.040 and payments to
towns under RCW 79.92.110(2), all moneys received by the state from the sale or
lease of state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from
state-owned aquatic lands shall be deposited in the aquatic lands enhancement
account which is hereby created in the state treasury. After appropriation,
these funds shall be used solely for aquatic lands enhancement projects; for
the purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for public purposes;
for providing and improving access to such lands; and for volunteer cooperative
fish and game projects.
In
providing grants for aquatic lands enhancement projects, the department shall
require grant recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the
project into their grant applications, and the department shall utilize the
statement of environmental benefits in its prioritization and selection
process. The department shall also develop appropriate outcome focused
performance measures to be used both for management and performance assessment
of the grants. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its
performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as
defined in section 2 of this act. The department shall consult with affected
interest groups in implementing this section.
During
the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2001, the funds may be appropriated for
boating safety, shellfish management, enforcement, and enhancement and for
developing and implementing plans for population monitoring and restoration of
native wild salmon stock.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 8. A
new section is added to chapter 79A.15 RCW to read as follows:
In
providing grants through the habitat conservation account, the committee shall
require grant applicants to incorporate the environmental benefits of the
project into their grant applications, and the committee shall utilize the
statement of environmental benefits in the grant application and review
process. The committee shall also develop appropriate outcome focused
performance measures to be used both for management and performance assessment
of the grant program. To the extent possible, the committee should coordinate
its performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as
defined in section 2 of this act. The committee shall consult with affected
interest groups in implementing this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 9. A
new section is added to chapter 77.85 RCW to read as follows:
In
providing funding for habitat projects, the salmon recovery funding board shall
require recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project
into their grant applications, and the board shall utilize the statement of
environmental benefits in its prioritization and selection process. The board
shall also develop appropriate outcome focused performance measures to be used
both for management and performance assessment of the grant program. To the
extent possible, the board should coordinate its performance measure system
with other natural resource-related agencies as defined in section 2 of this
act. The board shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing
this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 10. A
new section is added to chapter 43.155 RCW to read as follows:
In
providing loans for public works projects, the board shall require recipients
to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their
applications, and the board shall utilize the statement of environmental
benefits in its prioritization and selection process. The board shall also
develop appropriate outcome focused performance measures to be used both for
management and performance assessment of the loan program. To the extent
possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure system with
other natural resource-related agencies as defined in section 2 of this act.
The board shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing this
section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 11. A
new section is added to chapter 77.04 RCW to read as follows:
In
administering programs funded with moneys from the capital budget related to
protection or recovery of fish stocks, the department shall incorporate the
environmental benefits of a project into its prioritization and selection
process. The department shall also develop appropriate outcome focused
performance measures to be used both for management and performance assessment
of the program. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its
performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as
defined in section 2 of this act. The department shall consult with affected
interest groups in implementing this section.
