SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6058

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.

As of March 11, 2016

Title: An act relating to natural resources.

Brief Description: Relating to natural resources.

Sponsors: Senator Hill.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/11/16

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background: Budget Stabilization Account. The Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) was established by an amendment to the state Constitution in 2007. Each year, the State Treasurer must deposit 1 percent of general state revenues (GSR) into the BSA. The term GSR is defined in the Constitution and is largely equivalent to the statutory state General Fund (GFS).

In general, appropriations from the BSA require a three-fifths majority vote in each chamber of the Legislature, but in the case of a catastrophic event or low employment growth, the Legislature may appropriate from the BSA with a constitutional majority vote in each chamber.

Fire Suppression and Mobilization. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the primary fire suppression agency for the state. DNR has responsibility for protecting state and private forested land, lands that threaten forested lands during a wildfire, and nonforested lands under a protection agreement.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has a protection agreement with DNR for nonforested WDFW lands. WDFW pays DNR for fire suppression costs on lands protected under this agreement, and also pays local fire districts for fire suppression on WDFW lands.

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has the authority to mobilize jurisdictions under the Washington State Fire Services Mobilization Plan.

Four-Year Balanced Budget Requirement. The Legislature is statutorily required to adopt an operating budget that is balanced for the current fiscal biennium and for the projected costs to maintain current program and service levels in the ensuing fiscal biennium. This requirement to balance the budget for the projected costs of the ensuing biennium is suspended in any fiscal biennium in which money is appropriated from the BSA.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Proposed First Substitute): The following amounts are appropriated from the BSA:

These appropriations do not suspend the requirement to adopt a state budget that is balanced for the costs projected for the ensuing fiscal biennium.

Appropriation: Various. See Bill Summary.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: None.

Persons Testifying: No one.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.