BILL REQ. #:  H-4409.1 

Read first time 01/27/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a task force to examine state regulation of state and federal military training grounds; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that state and local regulation of the use of land used by state and federal military organizations for training grounds can jeopardize the military's primary mission of defending our homeland. State regulation can interfere with military training and can reduce the efficiency of such training. The legislature intends to create a task force that would examine how state and local land use regulation affects military training, and to recommend solutions when such regulation is found to interfere with such training.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The military training land use task force is hereby created. The task force shall consist of thirteen members. Seven members shall be appointed by the commanding officers of the following United States military bases, with each commander appointing one member: (a) Whidbey Island naval air station; (b) McChord air force base; (c) Fairchild air force base; (d) Fort Lewis; (e) Bremerton naval station; (f) Everett naval station; and (g) Bangor naval submarine base. Two members shall be appointed by the adjutant general of the Washington national guard, with the advice of the commander of the Washington army national guard and the commander of the Washington air national guard. One member shall be appointed by the director of the department of ecology. One member shall be appointed by the director of the department of fish and wildlife. One member shall be appointed by the association of Washington cities. One member shall be appointed by the Washington state association of counties.
     (2) Members of the military training land use task force will not be compensated but will receive reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Members of the task force shall be considered members of a committee for purposes of RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (3) The staff of the adjutant general of the Washington national guard shall provide administrative and clerical assistance to the committee within existing resources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The military training land use task force shall meet at times and locations determined by the task force. At the first meeting, the task force shall select a chair, who will preside over meetings. The task force shall examine state and local land use and environmental regulation of land used for training purposes by federal and state military organizations in Washington state. The committee shall determine whether such regulations are impeding military training, or increasing the expense of military training, or increasing the expense of maintaining military training facilities. The committee shall report to the legislature by December 31, 2004, on the committee's findings and on suggested legislative solutions. Committee findings and recommendations shall be made by majority vote, although a minority report may be included in the report to the legislature. The report to the legislature may be submitted in electronic form by e-mailing the report to the appropriate house of representatives and senate committees, which shall post the report on the house of representatives and senate committee web pages. The house of representatives and senate committees shall distribute copies to members of the public either electronically or in print upon request.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act expires January 1, 2005.