BILL REQ. #:  H-0652.1 

Read first time 01/24/2005.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade.

     AN ACT Relating to controlling invasive knotweed; adding a new section to chapter 17.26 RCW; creating a new section; making appropriations; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 17.26 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that the presence of invasive knotweed on public and private land threatens wildlife habitat, agricultural production, and environmental quality statewide. The legislature further finds that invasive knotweed found on private lands is a source of renewed infestation on public lands. The legislature therefore finds that it is in the public interest to protect public resources by making concerted efforts to control or contain invasive knotweed on both public and private lands statewide.
     (2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the state department of agriculture, in consultation with the state noxious weed control board, shall establish a program for the control or containment of invasive knotweed statewide.
     (a) The department of agriculture may enter into agreements for this purpose with eligible entities including but not limited to: State agencies, local governments, special purpose districts, Indian tribes, and nonprofit corporations.
     (b) The department of agriculture may adopt rules to implement this program.
     (c) This program is intended to build upon the 2004 knotweed control pilot project conducted in southwest Washington.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "invasive knotweed" means the following plants: Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed), Polygonum polystachyum (Himalayan knotweed), Polygonum sachalinense (giant knotweed), Polygonum x bohemicum (Bohemian knotweed), and hybrids and crosses of these species.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of this act.
     (2) The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the department of agriculture for the purposes of this act.
     (3) The department of agriculture may use no more than five percent of the appropriated funds for its own costs related to the administration of this program.
     (4) It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation represents an ongoing commitment to a program to control and contain invasive knotweed and that appropriations for it will continue in the future.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Within the dollars available for administration as specified in section 2(3)of this act, by December 1, 2006, the department of agriculture shall prepare and submit a report to the legislature documenting progress made and future recommendations for containing and controlling invasive knotweed under this program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2005.