HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2320

BYRepresentatives Haugen, Ferguson, Spanel, Kremen, Raiter, Cooper, Rasmussen and Dorn

Changing provisions relating to financing of flood control projects.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Kirby, Horn, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn, Wolfe, Wood and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JANUARY 24, 1990

BACKGROUND:

At the beginning of each biennium the flood control assistance account receives an amount of money from the general fund that, upon appropriation, is used to make grants to local governments for flood control maintenance projects.  The amount of money transferred into this account is equal to $4 million dollars, less whatever amount remained in this account from the previous biennium.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL: Grants from the flood control assistance account could be used to assist in financing the costs of making additions to existing levees to provide a level of flood protection equal to a five-year frequency flood, plus one foot, or to a level determined by the county, city, or town engineer to be consistent with the comprehensive flood control management plan.

The engineer of a city or town is responsible for approving plans for flood control projects inside the city or town, and for supervising such projects, instead of the county engineer having such responsibilities.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Such grants could be used to raise existing levees to a limited extent rather than for any construction purpose.  Cities and towns control projects within their boundaries.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Haugen, Prime Sponsor; Rod Mack, Department of Ecology; and Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    These grants assist in vital flood control maintenance.  Sometimes a levee needs slight raising, but the Department of Ecology has not permitted grants to be used for such purposes.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.