HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5440

As Reported by House Committee On:

Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to correcting the number of gubernatorial appointments to the fish and wildlife commission.

Brief Description:  Raising the number of the governor's appointees to the fish and wildlife commission from two to three.

Sponsors:  By Senators Jacobsen and Oke; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/19/01 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

$Requires the Governor to appoint three members to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in January of each odd numbered year.

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:  Jason Callahan (786‑7117).

Background:

In 1994 the Legislature merged the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Game into the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The six-member Wildlife Commission was replaced by the nine-member Fish and Wildlife Commission.  Each commission member serves a six-year term. 

The Governor has the authority to appoint two members to the commission in January of each odd-numbered year.  These appointees replace those commissioners with expiring terms.  This authority belonged to the Governor prior to the 1994 merger and operated so that the number of appointments equaled the number of commissioners with expiring terms.  Since the commission was expanded from six members to nine members, the two appointments no longer equal the number of commissioners with expiring terms.

Summary of  Bill:

The Governor is required to appoint three members to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in January of each odd numbered year.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill corrects a technical flaw in the RCW that fails to update the appointment schedule.  The current appointment process can not keep up with the vacancies.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tim Smith, the Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Willy O'Neil, Associated General Contractors of Washington.