H-1266.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1902

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Haigh, Miloscia, Regala, Linville, DeBolt, Doumit, Eickmeyer, Rockefeller, Anderson, Kessler and Koster

Read first time 02/10/1999.  Referred to Committee on Capital Budget.

Reducing impacts of floods on people and habitat.

    AN ACT Relating to reducing impacts of floods on people and habitat; and reenacting and amending RCW 43.155.050.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 43.155.050 and 1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 918 and 1995 c 376 s 11 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

    The public works assistance account is hereby established in the state treasury.  Money may be placed in the public works assistance account from the proceeds of bonds when authorized by the legislature or from any other lawful source.  Money in the public works assistance account shall be used to make loans and to give financial guarantees to local governments for public works projects.  Moneys in the account may also be appropriated to provide for state match requirements under federal law for projects and activities conducted and financed by the board under the drinking water assistance account.  During the ((1995-97)) 1999-2001 fiscal biennium, moneys in the public works assistance account may be appropriated for transfer to the flood control assistance account to be used for flood control assistance, including grants under chapter 86.26 RCW.  To the extent that moneys in the public works assistance account are not appropriated during the ((1995-97)) 1999-2001 fiscal biennium for public works or flood control assistance, the legislature may direct their transfer to the state general fund.  In awarding grants under chapter 86.26 RCW, the department of ecology shall give strong preference to local governments that have:  (1) Implemented, or are in the process of implementing, an ordinance that establishes a flood plain policy that is substantially more stringent than minimum federal requirements; (2) completed a comprehensive flood control plan meeting the requirements of RCW 86.12.200; or (3) ((constructed, or are in the process of constructing, a system of overtopping dikes or levees that allow public access)) projects that achieve flood management benefits both for people and for habitat for salmon and steelhead species that are listed or proposed to be listed under the federal endangered species act.

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