BILL REQ. #:  S-1069.2 

Read first time 02/11/11.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Marine Waters.

     AN ACT Relating to advancing the regional ocean partnership; adding new sections to chapter 43.143 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 resource management.
     (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 such planning efforts as well as resource preservation and restoration projects.
     (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 43.143 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By September 1, 2011, the governor shall file articles of incorporation in accordance with the Washington nonprofit corporation act, chapter 24.03 RCW, to establish the Washington state ocean and coastal resources foundation. The foundation may not be an agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the state and may not disburse public funds.
     (2) The foundation has a board of directors consisting of up to seven members. Initial members of the board must be appointed by the governor and collectively have experience in business, charitable giving, and ocean and coastal issues. Initial appointments must be made by September 30, 2011. Subsequent board members must be elected by the general membership of the foundation.
     (3) Members of the board serve three-year terms, except for the initial terms, which must be staggered by the governor to achieve a balanced mix of terms on the board. Members of the board may serve up to a maximum of three terms. At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve until a successor has been elected.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.143 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) As soon as practicable, the board of directors of the Washington state ocean and coastal resources foundation established in section 2 of this act shall organize themselves and the foundation suitably to carry out the duties of the foundation, including achieving federal tax-exempt status.
     (2) The foundation shall actively solicit contributions from the public and private sectors as well as nonprofit organizations for the benefit of ocean and coastal resources, and the funding of related projects and management planning efforts.