SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1121

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Senate, April 6, 2017

Title: An act relating to the frequency of Puget Sound action agenda implementation strategy and science work plan updates.

Brief Description: Concerning the frequency of Puget Sound action agenda implementation strategy and science work plan updates.

Sponsors: House Committee on Environment (originally sponsored by Representatives Muri, Fitzgibbon, Short, Peterson, Fey, Smith, Kagi, Barkis, McBride, Farrell, Wilcox, Jinkins, Haler, Stanford, Gregerson, Kilduff, Tarleton, Tharinger and Pollet; by request of Puget Sound Partnership).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/17, 77-20; 2/13/17, 75-22.

Committee Activity: Energy, Environment & Telecommunications: 3/09/17, 3/09/17 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 4/06/17, 47-2.

Brief Summary of Bill

Revises the timeframe for the Puget Sound Partnership to update its action agenda and science work plan from every two years to every four years.
Requires that the implementation strategies, benchmarks for near-term actions, and prioritized actions for the action agenda be revised every four years.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Ericksen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Carlyle, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Hobbs, Honeyford, Ranker, Short and Wellman.

Staff: Jan Odano (786-7486)

Background: The Legislature created the Puget Sound Partnership (Partnership) in 2007 to coordinate and oversee efforts to restore the environmental health of Puget Sound by 2020. The Partnership consists of a Leadership Council, an executive director, an Ecosystem Coordination Board, and a Puget Sound Science Panel.

The Leadership Council responsibilities include (1) adopting, revising, and guiding the implementation of the action agenda, (2) allocating funds for Puget Sound recovery, (3) providing progress and other reports, and (4) setting strategic priorities and benchmarks.

The Ecosystem Coordination Board advises and assists the Leadership Council in carrying out its responsibilities as well as developing and implementing the action agenda.

The Partnership is required to produce an action agenda, a science work plan, and a State of the Sound Report, all of which must be updated every two years. The Partnership also provides a set of funding recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature every two years.

Partnership Action Agenda. The action agenda, among other elements, (1) addresses all geographic areas of Puget Sound, (2) describes problems affecting Puget Sound's health, (3) identifies implementation strategies to restore and protect Puget Sound, and (4) incorporates appropriate actions to carry out the science work plan. Biennial updates to the action agenda include revised implementation strategies, benchmarks for near-term actions, and prioritized actions.

Partnership Science Work Plan. The science work plan (1) identifies recommendations from scientific and technical reports regarding Puget Sound, (2) describes whether ongoing work addresses the recommendations, (3) describes Puget Sound science-related activities being conducted by various entities in the region, (4) identifies specific science work actions to be done over the course of the work plan, and (5) recommends improvements to the ongoing science work in Puget Sound.

Partnership State of the Sound Report. The State of the Sound Report includes, among other elements, (1) an assessment of the progress made in implementing the action agenda, (2) findings from the assessment and monitoring program, (3) a review of citizen concerns provided to the Partnership, and (4) a review of the expenditure of state funds.

Partnership Funding Recommendations. In each even-numbered year, the Partnership is required to provide to the Governor and the Legislature its recommendations for the funding necessary to implement the action agenda for the upcoming biennium. Among other things, the funding recommendations identify funding needed for the action agenda and funding needed to support the work of the Partnership, and address funding responsibilities among local, state, and federal governments, as well as nongovernmental funding.

Summary of Bill: The Partnership's action agenda and science work plan must be updated every four years, rather than every two years. Implementation strategies, benchmarks for near-term actions, and prioritized actions necessary to achieve the objectives of the action agenda must be revised on a quadrennial basis.

The State of the Sound Report that the Partnership provides to the Legislature every two years must include references to ongoing science-related activities and monitoring efforts.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is an efficiency measure. Our partners would not be required to go through an update every two years. By changing the frequency of these reports, time and resources may be used more efficiently and effectively.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Sheida Sahandy, Puget Sound Partnership.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.