HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6370

As Amended by the House

BYSenators Pullen, Talmadge and McCaslin; by request of Statute Law Committee

Correcting obsolete statutory references resulting from a devolution of power from the department of conservation.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives H. Sommers, Chair; Chandler, Hankins, O'Brien, Peery and Walk.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Baugher.

House Staff:Ken Conte (786-7135)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1979 the office of the Code Reviser began the process of cleaning up obsolete references in Washington statutes.  Legislation often devolves powers onto newly created agencies or transfers powers from one agency to another but does not amend every section to refer to the proper agency.

In 1921 the state Reclamation Board was abolished and its powers and duties transferred to the Department of Conservation and Development, which was later renamed the Department of Conservation.  The Department of Conservation, the Weather Modification Board, the Columbia Basin Commission, and the Power Advisory Committee were abolished in 1967 and the majority of their powers were transferred to the Department of Water Resources.  Other powers were transferred to the Department of Natural Resources.

The Department of Water Resources, the Water Pollution Control Commission, and the Air Pollution Control Board were later abolished and their powers and duties transferred to the Department of Ecology.

SUMMARY:

References to abolished agencies and their divisions and offices are corrected.  All non-obsolete sections of the RCW chapter dealing with the Department of Conservation are recodified into the chapters on the Department of Ecology or the Department of Natural Resources.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Provided information) Terry Wilson, Office of the Code Reviser.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill is technical in nature and cleans up obsolete references in statute.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.