(1) In administering the fund, the department shall give priority consideration to:

(a) A public body that is a Puget Sound partner, as defined in RCW 90.71.010; and

(b) A project that is referenced in the action agenda developed by the Puget Sound partnership under RCW 90.71.310.

(2) When implementing this section, the department shall give preference only to Puget Sound partners, as defined in RCW 90.71.010, in comparison to other entities that are eligible to be included in the definition of Puget Sound partner. Entities that are not eligible to be a Puget Sound partner due to geographic location, composition, exclusion from the scope of the Puget Sound action agenda developed under RCW 90.71.310, or for any other reason, shall not be given less preferential treatment than Puget Sound partners.

Effective date—2007 c 341: See RCW 90.71.907.