BILL ANALYSIS

HCR 4406

TITLE OF THE BILL:  Creating a Joint Select Committee on Endangered Species Protection and Shoreline Management.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES: Creates a Joint Select Committee on Endangered Species Protection and Shoreline Management.

SPONSORS:  Representatives G. Chandler, Scott, Mulliken, Edwards, Mastin, Doumit, Cox, Sump and Thomas

HEARING DATE:  Thursday, February 25, 1999

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

ANALYSIS PREPARED BY:  Caroleen Dineen (786-7156)

BACKGROUND:

Local governments have general authority to adopt comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances regulating land use activities within their jurisdictions.  Local governments required or choosing to plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA jurisdictions) have specific requirements to adopt comprehensive plans containing certain elements consistent with GMA requirements and to enact implementing development regulations, including zoning provisions.

The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) requires counties and cities to adopt local shoreline master programs regulating land use activities in shoreline areas of the state and to enforce approved programs within their jurisdictions.  The SMA also requires the Department of Ecology (DOE) to adopt guidelines for local governments to use when adopting these local shoreline master programs.  The DOE considers the adopted guidelines and SMA requirements when reviewing and approving local shoreline master programs.  The DOE recently initiated a process to develop new shoreline master program guidelines.

Legislation enacted in 1995 required GMA jurisdictions to include their local shoreline master programs as elements of their GMA comprehensive plans.

Species of wild salmon, steelhead and bull trout and other species  in Washington have either been listed or are under consideration for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 

SUMMARY:

The Joint Select Committee on Endangered Species Protection and Shoreline Management (Joint Select Committee) is created.  The Joint Select Committee is a 12-member committee, including three members from each of the two largest caucuses of each house.  The Senate members are appointed by the President of the Senate, and the House members are appointed by the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives.

Using existing House and Senate staff, the Joint Select Committee is to develop recommendations related to:

Cintegration and amendment of SMA shoreline master programs and GMA comprehensive plans;

Clocal government implementation of new DOE shoreline master program guidelines and the effect of the guidelines on local governments and shoreline management within the state; and

Clegal, administrative, regulatory, financial, and other impacts on local governments associated with responding to current and proposed listings of species under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Joint Select Committee is required to report interim findings to the Legislature by December 31, 1999, and to submit a final report and recommendations by December 31, 2000.