Z-1533.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2678

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Quall, Reams, King, Anderson, Jones, Kessler and Conway; by request of Governor Lowry

Read first time 01/19/94.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Expediting the merger of the departments of fisheries and wildlife.

    AN ACT Relating to expediting the implementation of the merger of the departments of fisheries and wildlife into the department of fish and wildlife; amending RCW 43.300.900; amending 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 7 (uncodified); amending 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 79 (uncodified); repealing RCW 75.54.006; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

    Sec. 1.  1993 sp.s. c 2 s 7 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

    The director of fisheries and the director of wildlife shall, by November 15, 1993, jointly submit a plan to the governor for the consolidation and smooth transition of the department of fisheries and the department of wildlife into the department of fish and wildlife so that the department of fish and wildlife will operate as a single entity on ((July)) March 1, 1994.  The wildlife commission shall make recommendations for the consolidation of the agencies to the governor and the two directors.  The fish and wildlife commission shall review its area of responsibility in the consolidated agency and submit recommendations by December 1, 1994, to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature on any necessary changes in its statutory authority.  The legislative budget committee shall study the role of the fish and wildlife commission and prepare a report on recommended changes to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by December 1, 1994.

    Sec. 2.  1993 sp.s. c 2 s 79 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

    On ((July)) March 1, 1994, the state treasurer shall follow the recommendations of the director of financial management on the disbursement of funds from the state wildlife fund to the department of fish and wildlife solely for the purposes of funding programs for wildlife and game fish.  Beginning March 1, 1994, funds from the state wildlife fund shall be used only for the department of fish and wildlife ((after June 30, 1994)).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  RCW 75.54.006 and 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 101 are each repealed.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 43.300.900 and 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 102 are each amended to read as follows:

    Sections 1 through 6, 8 through 59, and 61 through 79 ((of this act)), chapter 2, Laws of 1993 sp.s. shall take effect ((July)) March 1, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect March 1, 1994.

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