BILL REQ. #:  H-3783.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications.

     AN ACT Relating to nuclear energy; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1)(a) The joint legislative task force on nuclear energy is established, with nine members as provided in this subsection:
     (i) The majority leader of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate;
     (ii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives; and
     (iii) The governor shall appoint five members, including representatives from the executive branch and the nuclear industry.
     (b) The majority leader of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint the cochairs of the task force from among the legislative members of the task force. The cochairs shall convene the initial meeting of the task force. A steering committee consisting of the legislative members of the task force shall advise the cochairs on the meetings and other activities of the task force.
     (2) The task force shall study the feasibility of pursuing additional nuclear-generated power in Washington including, but not limited to, the following:
     (a) An examination of advanced nuclear power reactors including, but not limited to, generations III and IV nuclear technologies;
     (b) A review of the advanced nuclear technologies that are in operation in other countries;
     (c) An examination of the methods by which spent fuel may be recycled, converted, or disposed of;
     (d) A review of the safety issues associated with operating and maintaining advanced nuclear power reactors;
     (e) The estimated cost per kilowatt hour of nuclear energy generated by an advanced nuclear power reactor as compared to other energy resources, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and coal;
     (f) An examination of the licensing, permitting, or other regulatory costs associated with constructing an advanced nuclear power reactor in the state; and
     (g) A review of potential federal tax incentives that may be available to support advanced nuclear power reactor projects in the state.
     (3) Staff support for the task force will be provided by senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research. The task force may hire additional staff with specific technical expertise if such expertise is necessary to carry out the mandates of this study, and only if an appropriation is specifically provided for this purpose.
     (4) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (5) The expenses of the task force must be paid jointly by the senate and house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house of representatives executive rules committee, or their successor committees.
     (6) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2008.
     (7) This section expires July 1, 2009.