BILL REQ. #:  S-1796.5 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to establishing the future of Washington forests review council; creating new sections; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The future of Washington forests review council is established. The purpose of the council is to: (1) Gather data necessary to understanding the economic, recreational, and environmental contributions of the forest products industry and secondary manufacturing sectors in Washington state and the trends that will influence the industry in the future; and (2) develop recommendations for policy changes that will contribute to maintaining the economic stability and growth of the forest products industry in Washington state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The future of Washington forests review council is composed of the following members: The governor, the lieutenant governor, and the commissioner of public lands.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The future of Washington forests review council is directed and authorized, subject to funding in the omnibus appropriations act, to commission the following studies:
     (1) An update of the 1992 timber supply study for Washington state that was done by the University of Washington. The update must be conducted using the same fundamental processes, methodology, and assumptions as the 1992 study, and using the same data gathering methodology as the original study. The department of natural resources is directed to fully cooperate with the update process and provide the data from the recently completed sustained yield calculation process. The council is directed to assemble a team of public and private forest inventory and analysis specialists to develop the specific work plan for the timber supply update and work with the vendor to ensure that the data and analysis are collected in the appropriate fashion.
     (2) An independent assessment of the economic contribution of the forest products industry, and secondary manufacturing sectors, to the state of Washington. This assessment will also examine some of the macroeconomic trends likely to affect the industry in the future.
     (3) A comparison of the competitive position of Washington's forest products industry globally, and with other leading forest products states, or regions, of the United States. This evaluation should compare the relative tax burden for growing and harvesting timber between the states or regions, the relative cost of adhering to regulations, and identify the competitive advantages of each state or region. The council is directed to assemble a team of public and private sector experts and economists to fully develop the work plan and work with the vendor to ensure the data and analysis are of high quality.
     (4) An assessment of the trends and dynamics that commercial and residential development play in the conversion of Washington state's forests to nonforestry uses. The assessment will involve gathering relevant data, reviewing that data, and analyzing the relationship between development and the conversion of forest land uses.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The future of Washington forests review council may form one or more technical advisory committees to assist the council in assembling and understanding recently completed studies or analysis that will assist the council in accomplishing its task. Examples include, but are not limited to, the legislative task force on forest health, the joint legislative audit and review committee study on forest fire fighting costs, the forest practices board's environmental impact statement for changes in forest practices under forest and fish, the board of natural resources' environmental impact statement for the department of natural resources' sustained yield level, and the recently completed economic analysis of the Oregon forest sector contributions and potential by the Oregon forest resources institute. The council may also form a technical advisory committee to provide input on issues that arise during the course of their review.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The future of Washington forests review council shall review all of the information gathered in sections 3 and 4 of this act. The council will summarize the current and potential roles of nonfederal forests, and their contributions to Washington state's economy, quality of life, recreation, environmental quality, and rural vitality over the next fifty years. Based on this review, the council shall develop recommendations on: (1) Policy changes that would enhance the competitive position of Washington's forest products industry in Washington state; (2) policy changes that would, to the extent possible, ensure that a productive forest land base continues to be managed for forest products, recreation, and environmental and other public benefits into the future; and (3) policy changes that would enhance the recreational opportunities on working forest lands in Washington state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The legislature finds that the western slopes of the Cascade mountain range in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis counties are experiencing increasing demands for a wide range of uses by the growing population in the Puget Sound basin. These lands provide important economic, forest, fish and wildlife, recreation, scenic, educational, and watershed benefits to the entire region. The legislature further finds that it is in the public's interest to assist Cascade foothills area landowners and communities in retaining responsible, working forestry in the lower elevations of this area to sustain timber-dependent economies while acknowledging ecological and environmental benefits from the forests.
     (2) In addition to the findings and recommendations in section 5 of this act, the future of Washington forests review council shall analyze and recommend policies and programs to assist Cascade foothills area landowners and communities in developing and implementing innovative approaches to retaining traditional forestry while at the same time accommodating new uses that strengthen the economic and natural benefits from forest lands. For the purposes of this section, the Cascade foothills area generally encompasses the nonurbanized lands within the Cascade mountain range and drainages lying between three hundred and three thousand feet above mean sea level, and located within the counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis counties.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The future of Washington forests review council shall report the findings and recommendations required by sections 5 and 6 of this act to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 31, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   The future of Washington forests review council must be staffed by the governor's office, the office of financial management, and the department of natural resources.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   The future of Washington forests review council and its powers and duties terminate June 30, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   (1) The sum of one hundred thousand 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 governor's office for the purposes of this act.
     (2) The sum of one hundred thousand 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 governor's office for the purposes of this act.