Brief Description: Modifying the composition of the forest practices board.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives VanDeWege, Kessler, Moeller, Sells, Hunt, Takko, McCoy, Liias, Conway, Haigh, Blake, Ormsby, Loomis, O'Brien, Eickmeyer, Hasegawa, Green, Pearson and Nelson).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

The Forest Practices Board of Washington was created in order to integrate the laws, rules, and programs governing forest practices and hydraulic projects. Membership consists of the directors of the Departments of Agriculture, Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, and Community, Trade and Economic Development, and the Commissioner of Public Lands. In addition, an elected member of a county legislative authority and six members of the general public (one of them being an independent logging contractor and another one owning less than 500 acres of forest land) are appointed by the Governor. Each member is appointed for a term of four years.

Summary:

The Governor will appoint a representative of a timber products union to the Forest Practices Board from a list of three names submitted by a timber labor coalition affiliated with a statewide labor organization representing a majority of the timber products unions in Washington.

The Governor will also appoint a small forest landowner who actively manages his or her land, as one of the six members of the general public.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   90   4
Senate   48   1

Effective: June 12, 2008