BILL REQ. #:  H-4727.1 

Read first time 02/01/2006.   Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Hood Canal.

     AN ACT Relating to the Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account; reenacting and amending RCW 79.105.150; adding a new section to chapter 90.88 RCW; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 90.88 RCW to read as follows:
     The Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from those moneys specified in RCW 79.105.150, and any gifts, grants, or appropriations made to the account must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for programs and projects to protect and restore Hood Canal, including implementing RCW 90.88.030.

Sec. 2   RCW 79.105.150 and 2005 c 518 s 946 and 2005 c 155 s 121 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) After deduction for management costs as provided in RCW 79.64.040 and payments to towns under RCW 79.115.150(2)((, all)): (a) Fifty percent of moneys received by the state from the sale or lease of state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from state-owned aquatic lands shall be deposited in the aquatic lands enhancement account which is hereby created in the state treasury; and (b) fifty percent of moneys received by the state from the sale or lease of state-owned aquatic lands and from the sale of valuable material from state-owned aquatic lands shall be deposited in the Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account created in section 1 of this act. After appropriation, these funds shall be used solely for aquatic lands enhancement projects; for the purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for public purposes; for providing and improving access to the lands; and for volunteer cooperative fish and game projects.
     (2) In providing grants for aquatic lands enhancement projects, the department shall require grant recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their grant applications, and the department shall utilize the statement of environmental benefits in its prioritization and selection process. The department shall also develop appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used both for management and performance assessment of the grants. To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural resource-related agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.270. The department shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing this section.
     (3) During the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2007, the funds may be appropriated for boating safety, settlement costs for aquatic lands cleanup, and shellfish management, enforcement, and enhancement and assistance to local governments for septic system surveys and data bases.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Section 2 of this act takes effect July 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Section 2 of this act expires July 1, 2017.