BILL REQ. #:  Z-0119.1 

Read first time 01/10/2005.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to funding conservation districts; amending RCW 89.08.410; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 89.08.410 and 1989 c 18 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The state conservation commission may authorize grants to conservation districts from moneys appropriated to the commission for such purposes as provided in this section. Such grants shall be ((made)) awarded annually on or before the last day of June of each year and shall be made only to those conservation districts that apply for the grants. ((After all the grant requests have been submitted, the initial grants in any year shall be made so that a conservation district shall not receive a grant in excess of the lesser of: (1) an amount equal to the total moneys obtained by the conservation district from all other sources, other than any grants obtained from the state, during the preceding calendar year; or (2) twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars. If the appropriated moneys are insufficient to make the maximum level of the initial grants, each grant amount shall be reduced by an equal dollar amount until the total amount of the grants is equal to the amount of the appropriation.
     However, further grants shall be made to those conservation districts that were limited to grants of twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars if the appropriated moneys are in excess of the amount of the initial distribution of grants, but the total of both grants to any conservation district in any year shall not exceed an amount equal to the total moneys obtained by that conservation district from all other sources, other than any grants obtained from the state, during the preceding calendar year. If the appropriated moneys are insufficient to make the second distribution of grants, each grant under the second distribution shall be reduced by an equal dollar amount until the total amount of all the grants is equal to the amount of the appropriation.)) The conservation commission may adopt rules pertaining to eligibility and distribution of these funds.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   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 immediately.