5342-S2.E AMH KESS H2964.2

E2SSB 5342 - H AMD 738 FAILED 4/13/95

By Representative Kessler and others

     On page 41, after line 7, insert the following:

     "NEW SECTION. Sec. 33.  The sum of fifteen million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the department of fish and wildlife for the watershed restoration jobs grant program.

     (1) The goals of this program are to:

     (a) Restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat in priority watersheds as established by the watershed coordinating council;

     (b) Provide good wage jobs for dislocated natural resource workers in distressed communities;

     (c) Assist in establishing new businesses in watershed restoration; and

     (d) Carry out projects developed through local initiatives.

     (2) Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars of this amount is provided solely for watershed restoration programs to be completed by the department of ecology’s Washington conservation corps crews in priority watersheds as established by the watershed coordinating council.

     (3) Five hundred seventy thousand dollars of this amount shall be used by the department of fish and wildlife to provide technical and engineering support for watershed restoration projects and to monitor implemented projects.

     (4) State agencies shall expend no more than three percent of total funding for direct administration of this program, except funds expended by the Washington conservation corp shall be subject solely to the limitations set forth in RCW 43.220.230.  Of this amount three hundred fifty thousand dollars is solely for the department of fish and wildlife to administer the program.  The remaining amount may be used by appropriate state agencies as determined by the watershed restoration jobs grant advisory task force created in subsection (7) of this section.

     (5) State agencies, local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations shall be eligible for these grants.  Funds may be expended for directly associated planning, design, and engineering costs.  Funds shall be used for specific projects and not for ongoing operational costs.  Examples of the type of eligible projects include, but are not limited to, closure or improvement of forest roads, repair of culverts, removal of fish passage barriers, and stream restoration and protection.

     (6) At least eleven million dollars of this amount shall be allocated for projects selected on the following basis:

     (a) The watershed priorities established by the watershed coordinating council;

     (b) The number of dislocated natural resource workers employed by the project;

     (c) The extent to which the project fits into an existing watershed plan;

     (d) The extent of local partnerships or match for the project.

     (7) Two million dollars of this amount shall be allocated for projects in nonpriority watersheds, which are based on strong scientific principles and which employ dislocated natural resource workers.

     (8) The department of fish and wildlife and the department of natural resources shall administer the program in consultation with the watershed coordinating council.  For the purposes of administering this program the department of fish and wildlife and the department of natural resources shall create a watershed restoration jobs grant advisory task force.  This task force shall consist of the department of fish and wildlife, the department of natural resources, the department of ecology, the Puget Sound water quality authority, the executive director of the Washington conservation commission, the employment security department, the work force training board, and the rural community assistance coordinator who shall serve as the task force chair.  The task force shall consult with tribal governments, the federal government, and labor and other interested stakeholders.

     (9) The department of fish and wildlife and the department of natural resources shall, in consultation with the watershed coordinating council, provide a report on the effectiveness of the watershed restoration jobs grant program to the governor and legislature by October 1, 1996."

     Renumber the remaining sections consecutively, correct internal references accordingly, and fix the title.

EFFECT:  Appropriates $15 million for the watershed restoration jobs grant program.

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