BP BHEAD INT S

WHEREAS, Sustainable development involves promoting human well-being and meeting critical economic needs while ensuring that our natural and physical resources and the natural environment are managed in a manner: That does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs; safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of our air, water, soil, and ecosystems; and avoiding, remediating, or mitigating, to the greatest extent practicable, the adverse effects on the environment of use and development; and

WHEREAS, The goal of making business practices and environmental quality compatible with economic vitality cannot be achieved without ensuring that environmental preservation and protection statutes and regulations are consistent and necessary to serve that public purpose; and

WHEREAS, The business community needs a stable framework of economic and environmental statutes and regulations to be able to make long-range plans and to invest in the best available technology; and

WHEREAS, The state of Washington is confronted with economic and social problems and our natural resources are increasingly threatened, requiring a stronger partnership among businesses, government agencies, and environmental groups and other organizations to develop and implement an urgently needed strategy for environmental protection, natural resources conservation, and sustained economic output; and

WHEREAS, There must be wise and responsible stewardship exercised to maximize both environmental quality and economic productivity in the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on sustainable development be established to:

(1) Evaluate current resource limitations;

(2) Study and analyze models of sustainable development locally and in other states and nations;

(3) Highlight existing programs within the state which follow the precepts of sustainable development;

(4) Develop a comprehensive framework for sustainable development for the state that contains the following elements:

(a) Principles of sustainable development;

(b) Environmental quality objectives;

(d) Integration of environmental considerations in economic and community development programs;

(e) Local or regional planning;

(f) Environmental education;

(g) Mechanisms for public private partnerships and intergovernmental cooperation; and

(h) Financial or market-based incentives to encourage innovation;

(5) Encourage cooperative regional efforts to promote sustainable development; and

(6) Make recommendations regarding legislative and regulatory changes necessary to implement the plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall consist of twelve voting members appointed as follows:

(1) Three members from each caucus of the Senate, selected by the president of the Senate: One member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate committee on trade, technology and economic development and one member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate committee on ecology and parks; and

(2) Three members from each caucus of the House of Representatives, selected by the speaker of the House of Representatives: One member from each caucus shall be a member of the House committee on trade, economic development and housing and one member from each caucus shall be a member of the House committee on environmental affairs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall also consist of four voting members appointed as follows:

(1) Two members representing the governor's office;

(2) The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development or the director's representative; and

(3) The director of the department of ecology or the director's representative; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee use legislative staff and facilities and may request assistance from state agencies to carry out the mandates of this resolution. All expenses of the committee shall be paid jointly by the Senate and House of Representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall present its plan to the governor and the legislature by the commencement of the 1995 regular session of the legislature. The committee shall cease to exist on April 1, 1995, unless the legislature determines it is necessary to extend the committee to continue required analysis and legislative oversight for proper implementation.