BILL REQ. #:  S-1136.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/08/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to the institute of forest resources; amending RCW 76.44.070 and 76.44.030; adding new sections to chapter 76.44 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there are many challenging issues facing the forest sector, such as climate change, loss of forest cover in rural and urban areas, forest health and fire, development of environmental services markets, enhancement of habitat and biodiversity, timber and water supplies, restoration of forest ecosystems, and the economic health of forest dependent communities that rely on the retention of working forests. These forest issues, occurring in both urban and rural environments, and the approaches taken to address them, transcend the expertise and mission of the University of Washington school of forest resources' centers and cooperatives. While each center and cooperative contributes important expertise and resources, the structure and continuity for the integrated, interdisciplinary approach needed to address these complex issues is lacking. The institute of forest resources will provide this structure and continuity by drawing contributions from the centers and cooperatives into a more consolidated, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and integrated process that is responsive to the critical issues confronting the forest sector.

Sec. 2   RCW 76.44.070 and 2010 c 188 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that there are many issues facing the forest sector, such as climate change, forest health and fire, carbon accounting, habitat and diversity, timber and water supplies, economic competitiveness, and the economic health of forest dependent communities. Enhancing the capability to effectively address these forest issues is critical to the state of Washington. To meet this need, the University of Washington school of forest resources will continue to work with the various interests concerned with the state's forest resources, including the legislature, state and federal governments, environmental organizations, local communities, the timber industry, and tribes, to improve these entities' ability to competitively recruit, educate, and train a high quality workforce. In order to meet these goals, it is important to our state and in particular, the University of Washington, to continue to have strong undergraduate and graduate programs in forestry and natural resources to provide well-trained professionals to meet workforce needs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 76.44 RCW to read as follows:
     The director of the school of forest resources of the University of Washington must coordinate the school of forest resources' cooperatives and centers to promote a more holistic, efficient, and integrated approach to broaden its research and outreach programs to address the issues facing the forest sector.

Sec. 4   RCW 76.44.030 and 1979 c 50 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The institute of forest resources ((shall)) must pursue coordinated research and education related to the forest ((resource)) sector and its multiple ((use)) uses, including: Its conservation, restoration, sustainable management and utilization; its ((evaluation of forest land use and the maintenance of its)) economic, ecological, and societal value in both urban and rural environments; the manufacture and marketing of forest products, including timber, nontimber, and environmental services; and the provision of recreation and aesthetic values.
     (2) The institute of forest resources must seek to provide a framework to identify, prioritize, fund, and conduct interdisciplinary research critical to the forest sector and to develop integrated, synthesized information and decision support tools to improve understanding of these complex issues for stakeholders, policymakers, and others.
     (3) In pursuit of these objectives, the institute of forest resources is authorized to cooperate with other entities, including, but not limited to, universities, state and federal agencies, conservation and environmental organizations, and domestic or foreign industrial and business institutions((, domestic or foreign,)) where such cooperation advances these objectives.
     (4) The institute of forest resources may solicit gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, whether real or personal property, or both, in trust or otherwise, to be directed to the institute for carrying out the purposes of the institute. The institute may solicit contracts for work, financial and in-kind contributions, and support from private industries, interest groups, federal and state sources, and other sources. It may also use separately appropriated moneys of the University of Washington for the institute's activities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 76.44 RCW to read as follows:
     The director of the school of forest resources of the University of Washington may appoint a policy advisory committee consisting of eleven members to advise the director of the school of forest resources on policies for the institute of forest resources that are consistent with the purposes of the institute. Membership on the policy advisory committee must broadly represent the various interests concerned with the purposes of the institute of forest resources, including state and federal governments, conservation and environmental organizations, urban forestry interests, rural communities, industry and business, and tribal interests.