HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5246

As Reported by House Committee On:

Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to salmon recovery funding board grant application deadlines.

Brief Description:  Adjusting deadlines for salmon recovery grant applications.

Sponsors:  By Senators Jacobsen, Oke, Spanel, Swecker, Gardner, Regala and Parlette; by request of Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/19/01 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

$Provides flexibility to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to establish the funding cycle for habitat projects.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Doumit, Democratic Co‑Chair; Sump, Republican Co‑Chair; Pearson, Republican Vice Chair; Rockefeller, Democratic Vice Chair; Buck, G. Chandler, Edwards, Eickmeyer, Ericksen, Jackley, Murray and Pennington.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background:

The Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) is required by statute to conduct two funding cycles each year for habitat projects.  Lead entities must submit habitat project lists to the board by January 1 and July 1 of each year.

Concerns have been raised that by mandating two funding cycles, volunteers are being pulled away from working on the projects themselves in order to prepare the grant applications for the next funding round.  In addition, by eliminating the requirement for two funding cycles, the SRFB itself could be conducting other work pertinent to salmon recovery rather than reviewing an additional round of projects.

Summary of  Bill:

The SRFB is no longer required to conduct two funding cycles for habitat projects each year.  The specific dates for when habitat project lists must be submitted to the board each year are deleted.  Habitat project lists must be submitted to the board at least once a year on a schedule established by the board.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  This legislation was requested by both lead entities and project sponsors.  This additional flexibility provided to the board will allow volunteers to spend more time working on projects out in the field rather than on preparing grant applications.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Phil Trask, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Willy O=Neil, Associated General Contractors of Washington; and Jim Fox, Salmon Recovery Funding Board.