BILL REQ. #:  S-1726.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/21/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to advancing the regional ocean partnership; adding a new section to chapter 43.372 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that the states of Washington, Oregon, and California have a common interest in the management and protection of ocean and coastal resources. This common interest stems from the many ocean and coastal resources that cross jurisdictional boundaries including winds, currents, fish, and wildlife, as well as the multijurisdictional reach of many uses of marine waters. These shared resources provide enormous economic, environmental, and social benefits to the states, and are an integral part of maintaining the high quality of life enjoyed by residents of the west coast.
     (2) The legislature finds that the shared nature of ocean and coastal resources make coordination between the states of Washington, Oregon, and California essential in order to achieve effective ocean and coastal resource management and support sustainable coastal communities.
     (3) The legislature recognizes the west coast governor's agreement on ocean health, entered into on September 18, 2006, as an important step towards achieving more coordinated management of these ocean and coastal resources.
     (4) Ocean and coastal resource planning processes and funding opportunities recently initiated by the federal government contemplate action at the regional level. Early action on the part of Washington, Oregon, and California to collaboratively define and implement such planning efforts and projects will increase the states' ability to determine the course of federal planning processes for the west coast and receive nonstate support for the planning efforts, resource preservation and restoration projects, and projects to support ocean health and sustainable coastal communities.
     (5) Therefore, collaboration on ocean and coastal resource management between Washington, Oregon, and California should be continued and enhanced through the respective legislatures, as well as through the respective executive branches through the west coast governor's agreement on ocean health.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.372 RCW to read as follows:
     When moneys are deposited into the marine resources stewardship trust account created in RCW 43.372.070, the governor must provide recommendations on expenditures from the account to the appropriate committees of the legislature prior to the next regular legislative session. The recommended projects and activities must be consistent with: The allowable uses of the marine resources stewardship trust account; and the priority areas identified in the west coast governor's agreement on ocean health, entered into on September 18, 2006, and recognized in section 1 of this act.