SSB 6516 -
By Committee on Capital Budget
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 (1)(a) A legislative task force on
financing the state's storm water, flood risk reduction and floodplain
restoration, and water supply and integrated water management
priorities is established, with members as provided in this subsection.
(b) The president of the senate must appoint two members from each
of the two largest caucuses of the senate. Of the four members, three
must be members of a fiscal committee, and one must be a member of a
policy committee.
(c) The speaker of the house of representatives must appoint two
members from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of
representatives. Of the four members, three must be members of a
fiscal committee, and one must be a member of a policy committee.
(d) The governor or the governor's representative shall be a member
of the task force.
(e) The task force must choose its cochairs from among its
legislative membership.
(f) Appointments to the task force must be completed within thirty
days of the effective date of this section.
(2)(a) The purpose of the task force is to develop state and local
financing options that address equally three state priorities: (i)
Storm water, (ii) flood risk reduction and floodplain restoration, and
(iii) water supply and integrated water management.
(b) The task force must carry out the following scope of work:
(i) Review existing studies and plans that quantify the level of
funding needed through fiscal year 2025 to meet the three state
priorities identified in (a) of this subsection;
(ii) Develop and recommend state financing options that address
equally the three state priorities identified in (a) of this
subsection;
(iii) Develop and recommend local financing options using new or
existing local governance structures that generate revenues from
municipal and agricultural beneficiaries;
(iv) Investigate and recommend least-cost options for meeting the
three state priorities identified in (a) of this subsection, such as
water conservation, water markets, and biosciences;
(v) Develop and recommend policies and criteria for managing,
prioritizing, and distributing the state and local funding generated;
and
(vi) Develop and recommend a new standard process by which, prior
to appropriation of funding for any structural project with a total
cost greater than 25 million dollars, the legislature must engage the
state of Washington water research center to prepare a benefit-cost
analysis of the project, including consideration of nonstructural
alternatives.
(3)(a) Principal staff support for the task force must be provided
by the senate committee services, the house of representatives office
of program research, and the office of financial management. In
addition, the departments of ecology, fish and wildlife, natural
resources, agriculture, health, and commerce, the office of the state
treasurer, and other relevant state agencies must provide information,
analysis, and other support upon request of the task force.
(b) At its sole discretion, the task force may:
(i) Enter into contracts with persons who have specific technical
expertise related to the scope of work; and
(ii) Form work groups, if necessary, to address specific elements
of the scope of work. Any work group formed by the task force must
include at least two legislators from the task force, including one
from each chamber, and may include public and private sector
representatives with relevant expertise.
(4)(a) Legislative members of the task force must be reimbursed for
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.
(b) The expenses of the task force must be paid by the office of
financial management.
(c) Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate
facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives
executive rules committee, or their successor committees.
(5) The task force must report its findings and recommendations to
the governor and appropriate legislative committees by December 15,
2014.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 If specific funding for the purposes of this
act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by
June 30, 2014, in the omnibus capital appropriations act, this act is
null and void.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 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."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Establishes a nine-member legislative task force to develop state and local financing options that address equally three state priorities: (1) Storm water, (2) flood risk reduction and floodplain restoration, and (3) water supply and integrated water management. Requires eight legislators and the governor or the governor's representative to serve on the task force, with principal staffing by the Office of Program Research, Senate Committee Services, and the Office of Financial Management. Outlines the task force scope of work to include developing recommendations on: Funding needed to meet the three state priorities through fiscal year 2025; state financing options; local financing options that generate revenues from municipal and agricultural beneficiaries; least-cost options such as conservation, water markets, and biosciences; policies for managing, prioritizing, and distributing state and local funding; and requiring benefit-cost analyses on any structural project with costs exceeding $25 million, prior to making a legislative appropriation for the project. Includes a reporting deadline of December 15, 2014, a null and void clause, and an emergency clause.