BILL REQ. #:  H-3959.1 

Read first time 01/25/08.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to altering the required composition of the forest practices board so that the prerequisites for the forest practices board member appointed to represent the interests of individuals with nonindustrial timber holdings matches other statutory definitions for small forest landowners; and amending RCW 76.09.030.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 76.09.030 and 2003 c 39 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is hereby created the forest practices board of the state of Washington as an agency of state government consisting of members as follows:
     (a) The commissioner of public lands or the commissioner's designee;
     (b) The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee;
     (c) The director of the department of agriculture or the director's designee;
     (d) The director of the department of ecology or the director's designee;
     (e) The director of the department of fish and wildlife or the director's designee;
     (f) An elected member of a county legislative authority appointed by the governor((: PROVIDED, That such)). However, the member's service on the board shall be conditioned on the member's continued service as an elected county official; and
     (g) Six members of the general public appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be ((an owner of not more than five hundred acres of forest land)) a small forest landowner, and one of whom shall be an independent logging contractor.
     (2) The director of the department of fish and wildlife's service on the board may be terminated two years after August 18, 1999, if the legislature finds that after two years the department has not made substantial progress toward integrating the laws, rules, and programs governing forest practices, chapter 76.09 RCW, and the laws, rules, and programs governing hydraulic projects, chapter 77.55 RCW. Such a finding shall be based solely on whether the department of fish and wildlife makes substantial progress as defined in this subsection, and will not be based on other actions taken as a member of the board. Substantial progress shall include recommendations to the legislature for closer integration of the existing rule-making authorities of the board and the department of fish and wildlife, and closer integration of the forest practices and hydraulics permitting processes, including exploring the potential for a consolidated permitting process. These recommendations shall be designed to resolve problems currently associated with the existing dual regulatory and permitting processes.
     (3) The members of the initial board appointed by the governor shall be appointed so that the term of one member shall expire December 31, 1975, the term of one member shall expire December 31, 1976, the term of one member shall expire December 31, 1977, the terms of two members shall expire December 31, 1978, and the terms of two members shall expire December 31, 1979. Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a term of four years. Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Each member of the board shall continue in office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. The commissioner of public lands or the commissioner's designee shall be the ((chairman)) chair of the board.
     (4) The board shall meet at such times and places as shall be designated by the ((chairman)) chair or upon the written request of the majority of the board. The principal office of the board shall be at the state capital.
     (5) Members of the board, except public employees and elected officials, shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250. Each member shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (6) The board may employ such clerical help and staff pursuant to chapter 41.06 RCW as is necessary to carry out its duties.