HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5525

                      As Passed House:

                        April 6, 1999

Title:  An act relating to appointment of a county legislative authority member of the forest practices board.

Brief Description:  Revising provision for appointment of a county legislative authority member of the forest practices board.

Sponsors:  Senators Hargrove, Morton, T. Sheldon, Snyder, Oke, Winsley and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/24/99 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  4/6/99, 93-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Revising the provision for appointment of a county legislative authority member to the Forest Practices Board.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Buck, Republican Co-Chair; Regala, Democratic Co-Chair; Anderson, Democratic Vice Chair; Sump, Republican Vice Chair; G. Chandler; Clements; Doumit; Eickmeyer; Ericksen; Pennington; Rockefeller and Stensen.

Staff:  Carole Richmond (786-7114).

Background:

The Governor appoints an elected member of a county legislative authority to the Forest Practices Board. 

Summary of Bill:

The Governor must appoint the elected member of a county legislative authority from one list of three persons provided by the Washington State Association of Counties.  The authority creating staggered terms is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:   It's important to get a county member on the board who understands the importance of timber revenues to counties.  Timber revenues are one of the largest revenue sources for some counties.  We need people on the board who understand timber harvesting and the purpose of tree farms. 

Testimony Against:  None. 

Testified:  Bill Vogler, Washington State Association of Counties; and Merton Cooper, Tree Farmer.