FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1394

C 221 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

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.

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

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

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

Summary:

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 stream bank repair is declared to not be a diversion from road purposes.

Votes on Final Passage:

House980

Senate460(Senate amended)

House920(House concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001