Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

HB 2480

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning state natural resource-related agencies providing financial assistance to agencies of the federal government.

Sponsors: Representatives Blake, Buys and Scott.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires federal government agencies awarded grants or loans by Washington natural resource agencies to submit, in writing, an agreement to abide by all state and local permitting requirements that would apply if the recipient was a private, nongovernmental entity.

  • Specifies that grants or loans may not be finalized until the grant recipient has complied with all applicable permitting terms and conditions.

Hearing Date: 1/26/16

Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).

Background:

Several natural resource agencies in the state administer natural resource-related, environmentally based grant and loan programs to fund a variety of projects in the state. Examples of these programs include: (1) Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grants, and other habitat and land conservation grants through the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board within the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO); (2) the Public Works Trust Fund program through the Public Works Board in the Department of Commerce; and (3) programs related to the protection or recovery of fish stocks administered by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. For each grant or loan there are a variety of eligible projects which can include: habitat, estuary, or riparian restoration; trail or road maintenance; fishing floats, piers, or platforms, boat launches, or other water access projects; and interpretive kiosks and signs.

The Office of Financial Management assists natural resource agencies in developing outcome-focused performance measures (performance measures) to administer the grant and loan programs. Both the OFM and RCO help natural resource agencies develop recommendations for a program to evaluate the performance measures. The recommendations must be consistent with the framework and coordinated monitoring strategy for salmon recovery outlined by the former Monitoring Oversight Committee (MOC). The statute creating the MOC and directing the MOC to develop a framework and coordinated monitoring strategy for salmon recovery was repealed in 2005.

Summary of Bill:

Before awarding a grant to an agency of the federal government, the awarding agency must require a written agreement from the grant recipient to voluntarily comply with the same state and local permitting requirements for all aspects of the activity or project as would apply if the recipient was a private, nongovernmental entity. A written agreement to abide by all state and local permitting requirements is also required if the funded activity or project is to occur on private, nongovernmental land. Grant or loan awards may not be finalized until the recipient has complied with all applicable permitting terms and conditions.

The requirement for the performance measure evaluation recommendations to be consistent with the MOC framework and coordinated monitoring strategy is removed.

A reference to "the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development," which was renamed in 2009, is updated to "the Department of Commerce."

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.