Title: An act relating to the interagency committee for outdoor recreation.

Brief Description: Concerning the interagency committee for outdoor recreation.

Sponsors: Representative Appleton.

Brief History:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 3/1/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Blake, Eickmeyer, Hunt and Williams.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; DeBolt, Dickerson and Orcutt.

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) administers several grant programs using moneys from a variety of funding sources including state general obligation bonds, federal funds, and dedicated funds. Grant programs include the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Nonhighway and Offroad Vehicle Account, the Boating Facility Program, the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, and several other outdoor recreation grant programs.

Under Washington Administrative Code 286-13-080, the IAC has adopted a rule requiring that state grants provided through the IAC are intended to supplement the existing capacity of a sponsor and are not intended to supplant programs, or to reimburse the cost of projects that would have been undertaken without state matching money. In addition, the rule states that the IAC will not approve the disbursement of funds for a project when otherwise reimbursable activities have been undertaken before a project agreement has been executed.

The Recreation Resource Account is funded from the marine fuel tax refund account. The account pays for the administrative costs of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC). Moneys in the account are split into two equal shares for the benefit of watercraft recreation in the state.

Summary of Bill:

For a public body that has at least 50 percent of the funds for a project, the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC) may not prohibit or limit that body from receiving grant funds solely because that body received grant funds from another local, state, or federal source.

A public body may use a grant as matching funds when applying for a grant from the IAC for projects that benefit watercraft recreation, regardless of the source or administration of those matching funds.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The grant process at the IAC is one of the best, however, this bill is about fairness. Local governments have been feeling the revenue impacts of recent initiatives, and they need the flexibility to apply for a variety of funds to complete projects. The Port of Bremerton was denied a grant for a boating facility that it otherwise would have been eligible to receive. Local governments need to be more creative to fund local projects. The federal grant programs are more flexible than the state grant programs. The IAC has added grant programs over the years, and older policies used by the IAC to not use grant funds to match grant funds from another program may need to be updated.

Testimony Against: The bill affects all nine grant programs at the IAC, each program has a matching policy, and the issues regarding matching requirements are complex. These changes would impact a significant number of stakeholders and projects. The IAC has developed policies to maximize public benefits from grant programs, ensure project sponsors are committed to their projects, and ensure state grant funds supplement, rather than replace local funds. The IAC has the current authority to address these issues administratively.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Appleton, prime sponsor; Ken Attevery and Bill Mahan, Port of Bremerton; Joseph Coppo, Kitsap County; and Eric Johnson, Washington Public Ports Association.

(Opposed) Jim Fox, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.