Title: An act relating to recodification of aquatic lands statutes.

Brief Description: Reorganizing aquatic lands statutes.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Oke, Doumit and Morton; by request of Commissioner of Public Lands.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/26/05, 1/27/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/8/05, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Fraser, Hargrove, Morton, Oke, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background: The legislature reorganized the upland statutes of the Department of Natural Resources in 2003. No policy changes were made and the recodified statute is easier to understand. The other statutes that have become disorganized over the last thirty years involve the management of aquatic resources.

Summary of Bill: The statutes regarding aquatic resources are reorganized and terms which are defined are put together. The statute is made gender neutral and similar subjects are grouped together.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The reorganized statutes will be much easier to use and the public will be able to understand them. The statutes are reorganized according to subject and are made gender neutral. There are absolutely no policy changes made. The Department of Natural Resources will look at policy issues later.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Fran McNair, Department of Natural Resources.