Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

SB 5246

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 Summary of Bill

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

Hearing Date:  3/19/01

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background: 

The Salmon Recovery Funding Board 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 1st and July 1st 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 Salmon Recovery Funding Board itself could be conducting other work pertinent to salmon recovery rather than reviewing an additional round of projects.

Summary of Bill: 

The Salmon Recovery Funding Board 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.