Title: An act relating to the timber land revitalization board.

Brief Description: Creating the timber land revitalization board.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/30/06, 2/2/06 [DPS-WM, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6211 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Hargrove and Spanel.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Morton and Stevens.

Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background: Concerns have been raised that changes in land use, declines in the value of fiber products, and increasing environmental regulation are contributing to declines in the state's forest lands employment in the natural resources industry which has fallen from .58 percent to 35 percent in the 1990-2000 period. Timber harvests have dropped from 5,849 million board feet to 4,177 million board feet in the same period.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The Timber Land Revitalization Board is created. The Board will be responsible for making grants and loans to sustain the timber industry and strengthen the connection between the forest economy and maintaining forest health.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The authority of the Timber Land Revitalization Board to make rules is eliminated.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: Yes.

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

Testimony For: The board could be a useful tool in helping timber dependent areas and providing valuable research.

Testimony Against: The small forest landowners don't want any government interferance in their businesses.

Who Testified: PRO: Stephen Bernath, Department of Ecology; Bill Garvin, Washington Forest Protection Association; Kevin Godbout, Weyerhaeuser; Michelle Connor, Cascade Land Conservancy; Pat McElroy, Department of Natural Resources.

CON: Rick Dunning Washington Farm Forestry Association