WITHDRAWN 4/14/2005

5610-S AMH WILL OLSE 084

SSB 5610 - H AMD TO H COMM AMD (5610-S AMH APP H2968.1)

By Representative Williams

   On page 13, after line 13 of the amendment, insert the following:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) The task force on watershed management and salmon recovery is established to evaluate and make recommendations to the legislature regarding the implementation of watershed management and salmon recovery plans.

   (2) The evaluation and recommendations of the task force shall include:

   (a) A review of the current status of local watershed and salmon recovery plans and projects;

   (b) A review of the current sources and uses of funding for administration, planning, and project implementation;

   (c) A review of the organizational structure and governance of the regional recovery organizations and watershed level entities currently preparing or implementing plans and projects;

   (d) The development of recommendations for any changes, if necessary, to current governance and organizational structures to ensure efficient use of resources in attaining the state's goals for watershed management as outlined in chapter 90.82 RCW and for salmon recovery as outlined in chapter 77.85 RCW;

   (e) The development of recommendations for new or existing sources of funding for ongoing administration, projects, plan implementation, and monitoring; and

   (f) The development of recommendations for improving the allocation of mitigation funding on a watershed basis, consistent with the state's policies and programs of optimizing mitigation projects.

   (3) The task force shall consists of:

   (a) The chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives economic development, agriculture, and trade committee or their designees;

   (b) The chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives natural resources, ecology, and parks committee or their designees;

   (c) The chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives capital budget committee or their designees;

   (d) The chair and ranking minority member of the senate water, energy, and environment committee or their designees;

   (e) The chair and ranking minority member of the senate natural resources, ocean, and recreation committee or their designees;

   (f) The chair and ranking minority member of the senate ways and means committee or their designees; and

   (g) One representative from the office of the governor, appointed by the governor.

   (4) The task force may gather information deemed appropriate by the task force for the evaluation of the next steps needed to successfully implement actions identified in watershed and salmon recovery plans. In developing its recommendations, the task force may consult with the advisory committee created in this section.

   (5) An advisory committee shall be established to provide assistance to the task force, upon request of the task force, that is limited to the specific scope and content requested by the task force. The advisory committee shall be composed of the following members or their designees:

   (a) The director of the department of ecology;

   (b) The director of the department of fish and wildlife;

   (c) The chair of the salmon recovery funding board;

   (d) A representative from a watershed planning group, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (e) A representative from a lead entity, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (f) A representative from a regional salmon recovery group, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (g) A representative of the regional fisheries enhancement groups, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (h) A representative from the federal fisheries service, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (i) A representative from federally recognized Indian tribes, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (j) A representative of counties, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (k) A representative of cities, appointed by the chair of the task force;

   (l) A representative of water purveyors, appointed by the chair of the task force; and

   (m) A representative of agriculture, appointed by the chair of the task force.

   (6) Both the task force and advisory committee created by this section shall select a chair from among its respective members for the purpose of conducting meetings. The chair of the advisory committee shall also be responsible for transmitting information from the advisory committee as a group to the task force.

   (7)(a) The task force and the advisory committee shall use legislative facilities, and staff support shall be provided by the house of representatives office of program research and senate committee services.

   (b) The task force may invite staff from the department of ecology, the office of the interagency committee for outdoor recreation, and the department of fish and wildlife to provide additional staff support for the task force and the advisory committee.

   (8) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

   (9) The task force shall be established by June 1, 2005, report its evaluations and recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees by December 31, 2005, and expire January 1, 2006."

EFFECT: Creates a Task Force composed of legislative members and a representative of the Governor's Office, and an advisory committee, to evaluate and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the implementation of watershed health and salmon recovery plans by December 31, 2005.