(1) The board shall study all matters connected with the provision of health care coverage, life insurance, liability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and disability income insurance or any of, or a combination of, the enumerated types of insurance for employees and their dependents on the best basis possible with relation both to the welfare of the employees and to the state. However, liability insurance shall not be made available to dependents.

      (2) The board shall develop employee benefit plans that include comprehensive health care benefits for all employees. In developing these plans, the board shall consider the following elements:

      (a) Methods of maximizing cost containment while ensuring access to quality health care;

      (b) Development of provider arrangements that encourage cost containment and ensure access to quality care, including but not limited to prepaid delivery systems and prospective payment methods;

      (c) Wellness incentives that focus on proven strategies, such as smoking cessation, injury and accident prevention, reduction of alcohol misuse, appropriate weight reduction, exercise, automobile and motorcycle safety, blood cholesterol reduction, and nutrition education;

      (d) Utilization review procedures including, but not limited to a cost-efficient method for prior authorization of services, hospital inpatient length of stay review, requirements for use of outpatient surgeries and second opinions for surgeries, review of invoices or claims submitted by service providers, and performance audit of providers;

      (e) Effective coordination of benefits;

      (f) Minimum standards for insuring entities; and

      (g) Minimum scope and content of public employee benefit plans to be offered to enrollees participating in the employee health benefit plans. To maintain the comprehensive nature of employee health care benefits, employee eligibility criteria related to the number of hours worked and the benefits provided to employees shall be substantially equivalent to the state employees' health benefits plan and eligibility criteria in effect on January 1, 1993. Nothing in this subsection (2)(g) shall prohibit changes or increases in employee point-of-service payments or employee premium payments for benefits.

      (3) The board shall design benefits and determine the terms and conditions of employee participation and coverage, including establishment of eligibility criteria.

      (4) The board may authorize premium contributions for an employee and the employee's dependents in a manner that encourages the use of cost-efficient managed health care systems.

      (5) Employees shall choose participation in one of the health care benefit plans developed by the board and may be permitted to waive coverage under terms and conditions established by the board.

      (6) The board shall review plans proposed by insuring entities that desire to offer property insurance and/or accident and casualty insurance to state employees through payroll deduction. The board may approve any such plan for payroll deduction by insuring entities holding a valid certificate of authority in the state of Washington and which the board determines to be in the best interests of employees and the state. The board shall promulgate rules setting forth criteria by which it shall evaluate the plans.

      (7) Before January 1, 1998, the public employees' benefits board shall make available one or more fully insured long-term care insurance plans that comply with the requirements of chapter 48.84 RCW. Such programs shall be made available to eligible employees, retired employees, and retired school

 employees as well as eligible dependents which, for the purpose of this section, includes the parents of the employee or retiree and the parents of the spouse of the employee or retiree. Employees of local governments and employees of political subdivisions not otherwise enrolled in the public employees' benefits board sponsored medical programs may enroll under terms and conditions established by the administrator, if it does not jeopardize the financial viability of the public employees' benefits board's long-term care offering.

      (a) Participation of eligible employees or retired employees and retired school employees in any long-term care insurance plan made available by the public employees' benefits board is voluntary and shall not be subject to binding arbitration under chapter 41.56 RCW. Participation is subject to reasonable underwriting guidelines and eligibility rules established by the public employees' benefits board and the health care authority.

      (b) The employee, retired employee, and retired school employee are solely responsible for the payment of the premium rates developed by the health care authority. The health care authority is authorized to charge a reasonable administrative fee in addition to the premium charged by the long-term care insurer, which shall include the health care authority's cost of administration, marketing, and consumer education materials prepared by the health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner.

      (c) To the extent administratively possible, the state shall establish an automatic payroll or pension deduction system for the payment of the long-term care insurance premiums.

      (d) The public employees' benefits board and the health care authority shall establish a technical advisory committee to provide advice in the development of the benefit design and establishment of underwriting guidelines and eligibility rules. The committee shall also advise the board and authority on effective and cost-effective ways to market and distribute the long-term care product. The technical advisory committee shall be comprised, at a minimum, of representatives of the office of the insurance commissioner, providers of long-term care services, licensed insurance agents with expertise in long-term care insurance, employees, retired employees, retired school employees, and other interested parties determined to be appropriate by the board.

      (e) The health care authority shall offer employees, retired employees, and retired school employees the option of purchasing long-term care insurance through licensed agents or brokers appointed by the long-term care insurer. The authority, in consultation with the public employees' benefits board, shall establish marketing procedures and may consider all premium components as a part of the contract negotiations with the long-term care insurer.

      (f) In developing the long-term care insurance benefit designs, the public employees' benefits board shall include an alternative plan of care benefit, including adult day services, as approved by the office of the insurance commissioner.

      (g) The health care authority, with the cooperation of the office of the insurance commissioner, shall develop a consumer education program for the eligible employees, retired employees, and retired school employees designed to provide education on the potential need for long-term care, methods of financing long-term care, and the availability of long-term care insurance products including the products offered by the board.

      (h) By December 1998, the health care authority, in consultation with the public employees' benefits board, shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature, including an analysis of the marketing and distribution of the long-term care insurance provided under this section."

      On motion of Senator Quigley, the following title amendment was adopted:

      On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "employees;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 41.05.065."

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Quigley, the rules were suspended, Substitute House Bill No. 2186, as amended by the Senate, was advanced to third reading, the second reading considered the third and the bill was placed on final passage.

      Debate ensued.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the roll call on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2186, as amended by the Senate.

ROLL CALL

      The Secretary called the roll on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2186, as amended by the Senate, and the bill passed the Senate by the following vote: Yeas, 29; Nays, 18; Absent, 0; Excused, 2.

      Voting yea: Senators Anderson, A., Bauer, Drew, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Heavey, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McAuliffe, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Sheldon, Smith, Snyder, Spanel, Sutherland, Thibaudeau, Winsley and Wojahn - 29.

      Voting nay: Senators Cantu, Deccio, Finkbeiner, Hale, Hochstatter, Johnson, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Moyer, Newhouse, Oke, Prince, Schow, Sellar, Strannigan, Swecker and Zarelli - 18.

      Excused: Senators West and Wood - 2.

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2186, as amended by the Senate, having received the constitutional majority, was declared passed. There being no objection, the title of the bill will stand as the title of the act.

SECOND READING

      THIRD SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1381, by House Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Brumsickle, Patterson, Campbell, Brown, Hankins, Chopp, Schoesler, Romero, Chandler, Robertson, Mitchell, G. Fisher, Sheahan, Poulsen, Thibaudeau, H. Sommers, Kessler, Mielke, Honeyford, Kremen, Wolfe, Boldt and Conway)

Sharing leave and personal holiday time.

      The bill was read the second time.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Pelz, the rules were suspended, Third Substitute House Bill No. 1381 was advanced to third reading, the second reading considered the third and the bill was placed on final passage.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the roll call on the final passage of Third Substitute House Bill No. 1381.

ROLL CALL

      The Secretary called the roll on the final passage of Third Substitute House Bill No. 1381 and the bill passed the Senate by the following vote: Yeas, 43; Nays, 5; Absent, 0; Excused, 1.

      Voting yea: Senators Anderson, A., Bauer, Drew, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Goings, Hale, Hargrove, Haugen, Heavey, Hochstatter, Johnson, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McAuliffe, McCaslin, Moyer, Newhouse, Oke, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Prince, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Schow, Sellar, Sheldon, Smith, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley, Wojahn, Wood and Zarelli - 43.

      Voting nay: Senators Cantu, Deccio, Finkbeiner, McDonald and Morton - 5.

      Excused: Senator West - 1.

      THIRD SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1381, having received the constitutional majority, was declared passed. There being no objection, the title of the bill will stand as the title of the act.

SECOND READING

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2191, by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Cooke, Ogden, Carlson, Sehlin, H. Sommers, Dickerson, Conway and Kessler) (by request of Joint Committee on Pension Policy)

Creating a retirement option for certain fire fighters.

      The bill was read the second time.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Drew, the rules were suspended, Substitute House Bill No. 2191 was advanced to third reading, the second reading considered the third and the bill was placed on final passage.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the roll call on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2191.

ROLL CALL

      The Secretary called the roll on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2191 and the bill passed the Senate by the following vote: Yeas, 45; Nays, 1; Absent, 2; Excused, 1.

      Voting yea: Senators Anderson, A., Bauer, Deccio, Drew, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Goings, Hale, Hargrove, Haugen, Heavey, Hochstatter, Johnson, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McAuliffe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Moyer, Newhouse, Oke, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Prince, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Sellar, Sheldon, Smith, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, Swecker, Thibaudeau, Winsley, Wojahn, Wood and Zarelli - 45.

      Voting nay: Senator Cantu - 1.

      Absent: Senators Schow and Snyder - 2.

      Excused: Senator West - 1.

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2191, having received the constitutional majority, was declared passed. There being no objection, the title of the bill will stand as the title of the act.

SECOND READING

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1990, by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Robertson, Chappell and Delvin)

Providing minimum retirement benefits.

      The bill was read the second time.

MOTIONS

      On motion of Senator Bauer, the following amendment by Senators Bauer and Long was adopted:

      On page 2, after line 3, insert the following:

      "NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The joint committee on pension policy shall study the benefits provided to surviving spouses of retirees of the Washington state patrol retirement system and shall report to the fiscal committees of the legislature by January 1997."

      On motion of Senator Bauer, the following title amendments were considered simultaneously and were adopted:

      On page 1, line 1 of the title, strike "and"

On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "43.43.277" insert "; and creating a new section"

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Bauer, the rules were suspended, Substitute House Bill No. 1990, as amended by the Senate, was advanced to third reading, the second reading considered the third and the bill was placed on final passage.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the roll call on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 1990, as amended by the Senate.

ROLL CALL

      The Secretary called the roll on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 1990, as amended by the Senate, and the bill passed the Senate by the following vote: Yeas, 49; Nays, 0; Absent, 0; Excused, 0.

      Voting yea: Senators Anderson, A., Bauer, Cantu, Deccio, Drew, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Goings, Hale, Hargrove, Haugen, Heavey, Hochstatter, Johnson, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McAuliffe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Moyer, Newhouse, Oke, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Prince, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Schow, Sellar, Sheldon, Smith, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, Swecker, Thibaudeau, West, Winsley, Wojahn, Wood and Zarelli - 49.

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1990, as amended by the Senate, having received the constitutional majority, was declared passed. There being no objection, the title of the bill will stand as the title of the act.

SECOND READING

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2579, by House Committee on Law and Justice (originally sponsored by Representatives Costa, Ballasiotes, Radcliff, Sheahan, Romero, Dellwo, Chopp, Murray, Robertson, Hickel, Mitchell, Cooke, Conway and Cody)

Consolidating and enhancing services for victims of sexual abuse.

      The bill was read the second time.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Franklin, the rules were suspended, Substitute House Bill No. 2579 was advanced to third reading, the second reading considered the third and the bill was placed on final passage.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the roll call on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2579.

ROLL CALL

      The Secretary called the roll on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2579 and the bill passed the Senate by the following vote: Yeas, 48; Nays, 0; Absent, 1; Excused, 0.

      Voting yea: Senators Anderson, A., Bauer, Cantu, Deccio, Drew, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Goings, Hale, Haugen, Heavey, Hochstatter, Johnson, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McAuliffe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Moyer, Newhouse, Oke, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Prince, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Schow, Sellar, Sheldon, Smith, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, Swecker, Thibaudeau, West, Winsley, Wojahn, Wood and Zarelli - 48.

      Absent: Senator Hargrove - 1.

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2579, having received the constitutional majority, was declared passed. There being no objection, the title of the bill will stand as the title of the act.

SECOND READING

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2727, by House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives K. Schmidt and Blanton)

Establishing a state infrastructure bank.

      The bill was read the second time.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Heavey, the rules were suspended, Substitute House Bill No. 2727 was advanced to third reading, the second reading considered the third and the bill was placed on final passage.

      The President declared the question before the Senate to be the roll call on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2727.

ROLL CALL

      The Secretary called the roll on the final passage of Substitute House Bill No. 2727 and the bill passed the Senate by the following vote: Yeas, 49; Nays, 0; Absent, 0; Excused, 0.

      Voting yea: Senators Anderson, A., Bauer, Cantu, Deccio, Drew, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Goings, Hale, Hargrove, Haugen, Heavey, Hochstatter, Johnson, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McAuliffe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Moyer, Newhouse, Oke, Owen, Pelz, Prentice, Prince, Quigley, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Roach, Schow, Sellar, Sheldon, Smith, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, Swecker, Thibaudeau, West, Winsley, Wojahn, Wood and Zarelli - 49.

      SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2727, having received the constitutional majority, was declared passed. There being no objection, the title of the bill will stand as the title of the act.

SECOND READING

      ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 2875, by House Committee on Agriculture and Ecology (originally sponsored by Representative Chandler)

Creating the Puget Sound management team.

      The bill was read the second time.

MOTION

      Senator Fraser moved that the following Committee on Ways and Means amendment be adopted:

      Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

      "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. INTENT. The legislature finds that since its creation in 1985, the Puget Sound water quality authority has been largely successful in adopting a comprehensive management plan for the restoration and long-term protection of Puget Sound, which is the principal guiding document for the coordination and strengthening of programs by local governments, the private sector, and federal and state agencies. The authority has continually revised the plan to reflect new information regarding the water quality and other environmental conditions of Puget Sound, and to respond to changing state and federal funding and programmatic requirements. The legislature finds that increased emphasis should now be placed upon implementing the plan, upon assisting those primarily responsible for implementing the plan, upon the long-term monitoring of Puget Sound's environmental conditions, and upon measuring progress in the overall implementation of the management plan.

      Sec. 2. RCW 90.70.001 and 1985 c 451 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

      FINDINGS--POLICY. The legislature finds that Puget Sound and related inland marine waterways of Washington state represent a unique and unparalleled resource. A rich and varied range of marine organisms, composing an interdependent, sensitive communal ecosystem reside in these sheltered waters. The legislature finds that Puget Sound is a gift of nature, central to the quality of life of all Washington citizens.

      Residents of this region enjoy a way of life centered around the waters of Puget Sound, featuring accessible recreational opportunities, world-class port facilities and water transportation systems, harvest of marine food resources, shoreline-oriented life styles, water-dependent industries, tourism, irreplaceable aesthetics and other activities, all of which to some degree depend upon a clean and healthy marine resource.

      ((The legislature further finds that the consequences of careless husbanding of this resource have been dramatically illustrated in inland waterways associated with older and more extensively developed areas of the nation. Recent reports concerning degradation of water quality within this region's urban embayments raise alarming possibilities of similar despoliation of Puget Sound and other state waterways. These examples emphasize that the costs of restoration of aquatic resources, where such restoration is possible, greatly exceed the costs of responsible preservation.

      The legislature declares that utilization of the Puget Sound resource carries a custodial obligation for preserving it. The people of the state have the unique opportunity to preserve this gift of nature, an understanding of the results of inattentive stewardship, the technical knowledge needed for control of degradation, and the obligation to undertake such control.))

      The legislature further finds that the large number of governmental entities that now affect the ((water quality)) health of Puget Sound have diverse interests and limited jurisdictions which cannot adequately address the cumulative, wide-ranging impacts which contribute to the degradation of Puget Sound. ((It is therefore the policy of the state of Washington to create a single entity with adequate resources to develop a comprehensive plan for water quality protection in Puget Sound to be implemented by existing state and local government agencies.))

      These entities can benefit by better coordination among themselves with state agencies and citizen organizations, and efficiencies of effort can be obtained from such coordination. Further, the legislature finds that positive incentives and technical assistance can foster a cooperative spirit that will lead to better protection of Puget Sound.

      It is therefore the policy of the state of Washington that protection of Puget Sound, including continued economic and recreational uses, can be best achieved by establishing an entity to periodically revise the Puget Sound water quality management plan, and to focus its efforts on helping other state and federal agencies, local and tribal governments, businesses, and citizen organizations to implement the plan. The legislature declares that this entity, in its planning activity, shall foster coordinated research and education efforts, identify efficiencies and positive incentives that promote implementation of the plan, and provide technical assistance to state and federal agencies, local and tribal governments, and citizen organizations in their activities to implement the plan.

      It is further the policy of the state of Washington to coordinate the activities of state and local agencies by establishing a biennial work plan that clearly delineates state and local actions necessary to protect and restore the biological health and diversity of Puget Sound.

      Sec. 3. RCW 90.70.005 and 1985 c 451 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

      DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:

      (1) "Authority" means the Puget Sound water quality authority.

      (2) "Chair" means the presiding officer of the Puget Sound water quality authority.

      (3) "Council" means the Puget Sound interagency advisory council created by section 6 of this act.

      (4) "Plan" means the Puget Sound water quality management plan.

      (((4))) (5) "Puget Sound" means all salt waters of the state of Washington inside the international boundary line between the state of Washington and the province of British Columbia, lying east of one hundred twenty-three degrees, twenty-four minutes west longitude.

      (6) "Local plans" means local watershed action plans developed pursuant to chapter 400-12 WAC.

      (7) "Work plan" means the work plan and budget developed by the authority.

      Sec. 4. RCW 90.70.011 and 1990 c 115 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

      AUTHORITY--MEMBERSHIP. (1) There is established the Puget Sound water quality authority composed of eleven members. ((Nine members shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. In addition, the commissioner of public lands or the commissioner's designee and the director of ecology or the director's designee shall serve as ex officio members. Three of the members shall include a representative from the counties, a representative from the cities, and a tribal representative. The director of ecology shall be chair of the authority. In making these appointments, the governor shall seek to include representation of the variety of interested parties concerned about Puget Sound water quality. Of the appointed members, at least one shall be selected from each of the six congressional districts surrounding Puget Sound.)) Nine members shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. In making these appointments, the governor shall include representation from business, the environmental community, agriculture, the shellfish industry, counties, cities, and the tribes. The representative of counties and the representative of cities shall be a current or former elected city or county official. One member shall be a member of the senate selected by the president of the senate and one member shall be a member of the house of representatives selected by the speaker of the house of representatives. The legislative members shall be nonvoting members of the authority. Appointments to the authority shall reflect geographical balance and the diversity of population within the Puget Sound basin. Members shall serve four-year terms. Of the initial members appointed to the authority, two shall serve for two years, two shall serve for three years, and two shall serve for four years. Thereafter members shall be appointed to four-year terms. Members representing cities, counties, and the tribes shall also serve four-year staggered terms, as determined by the governor. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of the position being vacated. ((The executive director of the authority shall be selected by the governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The executive director shall not be a member of the authority.

      (2))) Members shall be compensated as provided in RCW 43.03.250. Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members shall be reimbursed as provided in RCW 44.04.120.

      (2) The executive director of the authority shall be selected by the governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The executive director shall not be a member of the authority.

      (3) The executive director of the authority shall be a full-time employee responsible for the administration of all functions of the authority, including hiring and terminating staff, budget preparation, contracting, coordinating with the governor, the legislature, and other state and local entities, and the delegation of responsibilities as deemed appropriate. The salary of the executive director shall be fixed by the governor, subject to RCW 43.03.040.

      (4) ((The authority shall prepare a budget and a work plan.

      (5))) Not more than four employees of the authority may be exempt from the provisions of chapter 41.06 RCW.

      (((6))) (5) The executive director and staff of the authority shall be located in the Olympia area, as space becomes available. The department of general administration shall house the authority within the department of ecology.

      NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 90.70 RCW to read as follows:

      CHAIR. (1) The authority shall select a chair, who shall perform such duties and perform them for such period as the authority determines.

      (2) Beginning in December 1998, and every two years thereafter, the authority shall submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature. The report shall:

      (a) Describe and evaluate the successes and shortcomings of the current work plan relative to the priority problems identified for each geographic area of Puget Sound;

      (b) Describe the priority problems and actions proposed for inclusion into the next biennium's work plan for each geographic area of Puget Sound, including a description of new and ongoing activities and a breakdown of the costs of each activity, by geographic area;

      (c) Describe how the work plan responds to the evaluation required under (a) of this subsection; and

      (d) Describe any proposed amendments to the Puget Sound management plan.

      NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 90.70 RCW to read as follows:

      PUGET SOUND INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COUNCIL. (1) The Puget Sound interagency advisory council is created. The council shall consist of: The directors of the departments of ecology; agriculture; natural resources; fish and wildlife; and community, trade, and economic development; the secretaries of the departments of health and transportation; the director of the parks and recreation commission; the director of the interagency committee for outdoor recreation; the administrative officer of the conservation commission designated in RCW 89.08.050; the president of the University of Washington; and the president of the Washington State University. The governor shall appoint the chair of the council, who may be a staff person in the governor's office or a council member designated under this subsection. Members of the council may designate a person to act for them on the council, except that each member shall participate in the annual summit required by subsection (3) of this section. The university presidents may designate members of the sciences faculties to act as their designees on the council.

      (2) The council shall convene periodically at the request of the authority to provide recommendations for improving state agency coordination and setting of priorities in plan implementation, and for improving the integration of the Puget Sound plan with other state agency programs, plans, and activities that relate to the biological health and diversity of Puget Sound.

      (3) In addition to the periodic meetings under subsection (2) of this section, the council shall convene an annual summit of the council in conjunction with a meeting of the authority to address improving state agency coordination and participation in activities identified by the work plan for state agency implementation. The council shall obtain public comments at the summit to assist the council and authority in making these improvements.

      (4) On or before January 1, 1997, the council, with the assistance of the authority, shall review the need for additional state assistance in the development and implementation of plans for the protection of the state's marine waters other than Puget Sound, including technical and financial assistance, and the development of comprehensive ambient monitoring programs. The review shall include assessment of the need for a state coordination mechanism or entity for this purpose. The council shall consult with local governments and other interested parties in areas adjacent to the state's marine waters in conducting the review. The council shall provide a report of its review and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 1997.

      Sec. 7. RCW 90.70.025 and 1985 c 451 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

      DUTIES. In order to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter, the authority may:

      (1) ((Develop interim proposals and recommendations, before the plan is adopted, concerning the elements identified in RCW 90.70.060;

      (2))) Enter into, amend, and terminate contracts with individuals, corporations, or research institutions for the purposes of this chapter;

      (((3))) (2) Receive such gifts, grants, and endowments, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the authority. The authority may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments;

      (((4))) (3) Conduct studies and research relating to Puget Sound water quality;

      (((5))) (4) Obtain information relating to Puget Sound from other state and local agencies;

      (((6))) (5) Conduct appropriate public hearings, solicit extensive public participation, and otherwise seek to broadly disseminate information concerning Puget Sound;

      (((7))) (6) Receive and expend funding from other public agencies;

      (7) Establish priorities for funding the implementation of the plan;

      (8) ((Prepare a biennial budget request for consideration by the governor and the legislature; and

      (9))) Adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as it deems necessary for the purposes of this chapter; and

      (9) Sponsor an annual conference or workshop where all interested parties will have the opportunity to share information about the status of efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound and make recommendations for future actions to protect and restore Puget Sound.

      Sec. 8. RCW 90.70.055 and 1990 c 115 s 4 are each amended to read as follows: