2140.E AMS SWEC S2982.1

EHB 2140 - S AMD TO AG COMM AMD (S2660.1) 313

By Senator Swecker

ADOPTED 04/09/2003

Beginning on page 1, line 20 of the amendment, strike all of section 2 and insert the following:

"Sec. 2. RCW 89.08.030 and 1987 c 180 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is hereby established to serve as an agency of the state ((and)) the state conservation commission. The commission is authorized to perform the functions conferred upon it by law((,)). The ((state conservation)) commission((, which)) shall succeed to all powers, duties, and property of the state soil and water conservation committee.

(2) The commission shall consist of ((ten)) twelve members((,)):

(a) Five of ((whom)) the members are the ex officio members specified in subsection (5) of this section.

(b) Two members shall be appointed by the governor((,)). At least one of ((whom)) the appointed members shall be a landowner or operator of a farm. The appointed members shall serve for a term of four years.

(c) Three members shall be elected as provided in subsection (3) of this section. At least two of the three elected members shall be landowners or operators of a farm ((and shall be elected as herein provided. The appointed members shall serve for a term of four years)).

(d) One member shall be appointed by a statewide livestock trade organization, such as cattle, dairy, or poultry, and confirmed by the conservation district supervisors at their annual statewide meeting. This member shall serve for a term of four years.

(e) One member shall be a crop producer appointed by a statewide organization representing the interests of a wide range of farming operations and confirmed by the conservation district supervisors at their annual statewide meeting. This member shall serve for a term of four years.

(3) The three elected members identified in subsection (2)(c) of this section shall be elected for three-year terms, with one ((shall be)) elected each year by the district supervisors at their annual statewide meeting. One of the members shall reside in eastern Washington, one in central Washington and one in western Washington, with the specific boundaries to be determined by district supervisors. ((At the first such election, the term of the member from western Washington shall be one year, central Washington two years and eastern Washington three years, and successors shall be elected for three years.))

(4) Unexpired term vacancies in the office of appointed commission members shall be filled by appointment by the governor in the same manner as full-term appointments. Unexpired terms of elected commission members shall be filled by the regional vice president of the Washington association of conservation districts who is serving that part of the state where the vacancy occurs, ((such)) for a term to continue only until district supervisors can fill the unexpired term by electing the commission member.

(5) The director of the department of ecology, the director of the department of agriculture, the commissioner of public lands, the president of the Washington association of conservation districts, and the dean of the college of agriculture at Washington State University shall be ex officio members of the commission. An ex officio member of the commission shall hold office so long as he or she retains the office by virtue of which he or she is a member of the commission. Ex officio members may delegate their authority.

(6) The commission may invite appropriate officers of cooperating organizations((,)) and state and federal agencies to serve as advisers to the conservation commission."

EFFECT: Adds two members to the Conservation Commission - one appointed by a statewide livestock trade organization and one who is a crop producer appointed by a statewide agricultural organization. Requires confirmation of these members by the conservation district supervisors at their annual meeting. Specifies these members serve for four-year terms. Includes some technical revisions.

--- END ---