6168-S.E AMH KRET JOND 269

ESSB 6168 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-5169.3/20) 1699

By Representative Kretz

NOT ADOPTED 02/28/2020

On page 302, after line 36, insert the following:

"Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Account--State Appropriation… $53,400,000"

On page 302, line 38, correct the total.

On page 308, after line 29, insert the following:

"(27) $53,400,000 of the wildfire prevention and preparedness account--state appropriation is provided solely for the following purposes:

(a) $10,000,000 is for fire preparedness activities, as described in Sec. 918(2)(a) of this act;

(b) $2,000,000_is for fire prevention activities, as described in Sec. 918(2)(b) of this act;

(c) $35,000,000_is for forest health activities, as described in Sec. 918 (2)(c) of this act;

(d) $5,000,000_is to provide to other state agencies for fire prevention, preparedness, or recovery activities, as described in Sec. 918(2)(d) of this act;

(e) $1,400,000_is for wildfire tracking and reporting systems, as described in Sec. 918(2)(e) of this act."

On page 471, beginning on line 15, strike all of section 727

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

On page 474, after line 19, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 731. A new section is added to 2019 c 415 (uncodified) to read as follows:

FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT-WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS ACCOUNT

General Fund--State Appropriation (FY 2021)… $53,400,000

TOTAL APPROPRIATION… $53,400,000

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation in this section is provided solely for expenditure into the wildfire prevention and preparedness account created in Section 918 of this act. It is the intent of the legislature that an equivalent amount is appropriated into the wildfire prevention and preparedness account in each fiscal year of the ensuing biennium."

On page 497, after line 2, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 918. A new section is added to chapter 76.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The wildfire prevention and preparedness account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.

(2) The moneys in the account must be appropriated for the following priorities:

(a) Funding fire preparedness activities consistent with the goals contained in the "10-year wildland fire protection strategy" including, but not limited to, funding for full-time firefighters and investments in ground and aerial firefighting equipment and technology. When feasible, the department must prioritize the use of local resources for the purposes of this subsection;

(b) Fire prevention activities consistent with the "20-year eastern forest health strategy," the "10-year wildland fire protection strategy," and the "forest action plan" including, but not limited to, the national fire protection association's firewise USA and the fire-adapted communities network programs to help communities take action before, during, and after wildfires. If necessary or advisable, the department may develop rules for the programs authorized under this subsection (2)(b);

(c) Activities to restore and improve forest health and reduce vulnerability to drought, insect infestation, disease, and other threats to healthy forests. These activities include forest management, such as thinning and use of prescribed fire, postfire recovery activities, such as reforestation, and research and design with respect to cross-laminate timber and other emerging products and markets for those products. Funding priority must be given to programs, activities, or projects aligned with the "20-year eastern forest health strategy," the "10-year wildland fire protection strategy," and the "forest action plan" prioritized pursuant to RCW 76.06.200 and 79.10.530 across any combination of local, state, federal, tribal, and private ownerships;

(d) Funding of fire prevention, preparedness, or recovery activities for other state agencies consistent with the "20-year eastern forest health strategy," the "10-year wildland fire protection strategy," and the "forest action plan"; and

(e) Funding for the investment in and maintenance of tracking and reporting systems to ensure accountability and transparency in wildfire prevention and preparedness activities and costs.

(3) The legislature may direct the forest health advisory committee established in RCW 76.06.200 and wildland fire advisory committee established in RCW 76.04.179 to provide recommendations for investments under this section.

(4)(a) The forest health advisory committee and wildland fire advisory committee must use environmental justice or equity focused tools, such as the Washington tracking network's environmental health disparities tool, to identify highly impacted communities. Analysis of how to benefit these communities must be used as a factor in determining recommendations for investments under this section.

(b) For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, "highly impacted communities" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 19.405.020."

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

Correct the title.

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