HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1394

As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to clarifying the use of county road funds in salmon recovery projects.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the use of county road funds in salmon recovery projects.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Eickmeyer, Schoesler, Rockefeller, Sump, Jackley, Kessler, Cox and Dunshee.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/7/01 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/14/01, 98-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/12/01, 46-0.

House Concurred.

Passed House: 4/18/01, 92-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Expands the use of county road funds to permit the removal of barriers to fish passage as related to county roads.

$Includes removal of fish passage barriers and accompanying work as a road purpose for requirements of non-diversion of road funds.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; Ahern, Anderson, Armstrong, G. Chandler, Edmonds, Haigh, Hatfield, Hurst, Jackley, Jarrett, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sump, Wood and Woods.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786‑7303).

Background:

The use of county road funds is restricted to county road purposes. 

County roads can affect stream beds and fish passage in those streams.  The effects of a county road, including culverts, can impact stream beds beyond the county road right-of-way.

Summary of Bill:

Counties may use county road moneys for the removal of barriers to fish passage related to county roads if that removal is clearly the county=s responsibility.  This may include engineering services, stream bank stabilization, stream restoration, or channel modification.  These expenditures may be used for activities beyond the county right-of-way if caused by the county road or culvert.  Activities related to the removal of barriers to fish passage performed beyond the county right-of-way may not exceed 25 percent of project costs and the annual cost of activities may not exceed 2 of 1 percent of the county road budget.

Expenditure of county road moneys for removal of barriers to fish passage and accompanying streambed and streambank repair is declared to not be a diversion from road purposes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  Provides counties with the flexibility to address fish passage barrier removal and address impacts of road culverts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jackie White, Washington State Association of Counties.