SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5058
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks, January 28, 2021
Title: An act relating to making technical changes to certain natural resources-related accounts.
Brief Description: Making technical changes to certain natural resources-related accounts.
Sponsors: Senators Rolfes and Van De Wege; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks: 1/21/21, 1/28/21 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes payments from the Limited Fish and Wildlife Account, rather than the Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Account, for livestock damage claims.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Van De Wege, Chair; Salomon, Vice Chair; Warnick, Ranking Member; Honeyford, Rolfes, Short and Stanford.
Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7428)
Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife's (DFW) State Wildlife Account was eliminated in 2020, and replaced with two new accounts, the Limited Fish and Wildlife Account and the Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Account.  The changes were made to increase transparency and accountability to the public by clearly dividing restricted and  nonrestricted revenues into two separate accounts.  The Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Account is used to receive revenue that by statute, is more discretionary in nature.  The Limited Fish and Wildlife Account is used to receive revenue that by statute, limits how DFW uses the funds. 
Summary of Bill:

Payments for claims and assessment costs for injury or loss of livestock are authorized from the Limited Fish and Wildlife Account, rather than the Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Account.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2021.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  Last year legislation was adopted to make it easier to track funds in the State Wildlife Account by creating two separate accounts.  This change is a technical fix to address a drafting error from last year and align revenues with expenditures in the proper account.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Tom McBride, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.