SB 5539 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

Finds that many Washington citizens are veterans of armed forces conflicts that have important skills that may be employed in projects that help to protect and restore Washington's rivers, streams, lakes, marine waters, and open lands.

Finds that such work has demonstrated benefits for many veterans who are coping with posttraumatic stress disorder or have other mental health or substance abuse disorders related to their service in the armed forces.

Declares that it is the purpose of this act to create a program that provides state funding assistance for projects that restore Washington's waters, forests, and habitat through the primary participation of such veterans.

Appropriates the sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the state building construction account to the veterans conservation corps program account, to be expended by the salmon recovery funding board to carry out the purposes of this act.