BILL REQ. #:  S-0495.1 

Read first time 01/22/2003.   Referred to Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife.

     AN ACT Relating to the director of the department of fish and wildlife; and amending RCW 43.17.020 and 77.04.013.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.17.020 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     There shall be a chief executive officer of each department to be known as: (1) The secretary of social and health services, (2) the director of ecology, (3) the director of labor and industries, (4) the director of agriculture, (5) the director of fish and wildlife, (6) the secretary of transportation, (7) the director of licensing, (8) the director of general administration, (9) the director of community, trade, and economic development, (10) the director of veterans affairs, (11) the director of revenue, (12) the director of retirement systems, (13) the secretary of corrections, ((and)) (14) the secretary of health, and (15) the director of financial institutions.
     Such officers, except the secretary of transportation ((and the director of fish and wildlife)), shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and hold office at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary of transportation shall be appointed by the transportation commission as prescribed by RCW 47.01.041. ((The director of fish and wildlife shall be appointed by the fish and wildlife commission as prescribed by RCW 77.04.055.))

Sec. 2   RCW 77.04.013 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature supports the recommendations of the state fish and wildlife commission with regard to the commission's responsibilities in the merged department of fish and wildlife. It is the intent of the legislature that, beginning July 1, 1996, the commission assume regulatory authority for food fish and shellfish in addition to its existing authority for game fish and wildlife. It is also the intent of the legislature to provide to the commission the authority to review and approve department agreements, to review and approve the department's budget proposals, to adopt rules for the department, and to select commission staff ((and the director of the department)).
     The legislature finds that all fish, shellfish, and wildlife species should be managed under a single comprehensive set of goals, policies, and objectives, and that the decision-making authority should rest with the fish and wildlife commission. The commission acts in an open and deliberative process that encourages public involvement and increases public confidence in department decision making.