BILL REQ. #:  H-5711.1 

Read first time 02/20/08.   Referred to Committee on Capital Budget.

     AN ACT Relating to catastrophic flood relief; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The sum of fifty million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, from the state building construction account to the office of financial management, working with and through other state agencies, the Chehalis basin flood control authority, and other local governments as appropriate, to participate in flood hazard mitigation projects for the Chehalis river basin.
     (1) Up to two million five hundred thousand dollars of the appropriation is for the Chehalis basin flood control authority or other authorized local government groups to develop or participate in the development of flood hazard mitigation measures throughout the basin.
     (2) The office of financial management shall participate as the nonfederal sponsor of United States army corps of engineers flood hazard mitigation projects for the Chehalis river basin area, including the project authorized by the water resources development act of 2007 and projects to be developed under the basin-wide study authorized by United States house resolution 2581, if such projects are mutually agreed to between the federal government, the office of financial management, and the Chehalis basin flood control authority or other authorized local government group. The office of financial management shall prepare the necessary agreements to ensure an active partnership with federal and state agencies, local governments, the Chehalis river flood control authority, and others as needed.
     (3) The office of financial management shall not allot funds for construction of flood hazard mitigation projects for the Chehalis river basin until a project agreement between nonfederal project partners has been signed and copies have been provided to the governor, the majority and minority leaders of the senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives. The project agreement must delineate responsibility for the ongoing operations and maintenance of the project. The agreement must also include a plan to meet applicable floodplain management requirements and to address any applicable federal requirements for managing the effect of future land use developments on the extent and severity of flooding.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.