AN ACT Relating to research, education, and public service on ocean and coastal resources; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. This chapter may be known and cited as the ocean, coastal, and fishery resources research and public service act of 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Washington's ocean, coastal, and fishery resources are a vital asset for the state.

(2) A healthy marine environment is valuable in its own right, and as a foundation for Washington's marine-based economy, for recreation, and for cultural and aesthetic enrichment.

(3) A strong program of research, education, technology transfer, and advisory services is an essential investment in the future of Washington's ocean, coastal, and fishery resources.

(4) The Washington sea grant program, centered at the University of Washington and involving a number of other universities and institutions, has provided a significant range of research, education, and advisory service activities that promote the wise use and enhancement of ocean, coastal, and fishery resources. Sea grant program activities extend throughout the state of Washington, including Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Pacific coast and its estuaries, and the Columbia river system and adjacent areas.

(5) The Washington sea grant program is an effective mechanism for identifying critical resource problems and opportunities; for engaging the best talent at the University of Washington college of ocean and fishery sciences and other institutions in addressing these problems and opportunities; for providing scientific review and quality control; and for disseminating the results of research to industry, government, and the public.

(6) Federal funds are the main source of support for sea grant program activities, but federal law requires nonfederal funds to supplement federal grants and contracts.

(7) Washington is the only state on the west coast of the United States that does not provide an appropriation for the sea grant program. Other west coast states average over one million dollars in sea grant program support per biennium.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The purpose of this legislation is to provide a strong information base for the wise use and enhancement of Washington's ocean, coastal, and fishery resources. Funds provided under this legislation shall be used to provide a program of research, education, and advisory services that addresses the health of the marine environment; opportunities for beneficial uses of marine resources and for wise coastal economic development; and means of optimizing the public resource.

(2) The director of the Washington sea grant program shall utilize funds provided under this legislation to design research, education, and advisory service activities that implement the purpose of this act.

(3) The dean of the University of Washington's college of ocean and fishery sciences shall appoint a steering committee to advise the director of the Washington sea grant program in identifying appropriate problems and opportunities to address, to insure that program activities are of high quality, and to facilitate dissemination of program results. This steering committee shall include the dean, other university faculty, representatives of appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, industry, and the public. The committee shall be of a size to function as an effective working body, and membership should rotate periodically.

(4) To the maximum extent possible, the director of the Washington sea grant program shall seek to maximize federal, industry, and private funding for the purposes of this legislation.

(5) The director shall report to the legislature at the beginning of each biennium on the uses of funds provided under this legislation and on program results and benefits.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of one million two hundred thousand dollars is appropriated from the general fund to the University of Washington for the Washington sea grant program for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, and for subsequent biennia. Of this amount, six hundred thousand dollars shall be used for advisory service, public education, and public information activities designed to promote the wise use and enhancement of ocean, coastal, and fishery resources; and six hundred thousand dollars shall be used to support research on estuaries and critical habitat, fish and shellfish enhancement, ocean technology and marine products, and ocean, coastal, and fishery economics and policy.