NOVA attack expands

[Tahuya Rat]

I hope it's not your work calender! LOL

Seeing as probably no one in the state knew about this hearing except us (Thanks bbbom), I doubt there was much of a turnout...short of who the sponsor wanted to be there, that is.

 

[fishhead]

Yep, it's the Billy Bob Contractors daytimer work calendar, show up late and leave early ;) Gotta ride sometime ya know.

 

[Tahuya Rat]

I heard of those, used to be able to get 'em through Bob's Bait and Tackle.com

 

[Tahuya Rat]

Just got an email from one of the leg's I wrote, SHB1698 has passed budget comittee, is on it's way to rules comittee.

time to get busy

 

[Tod]

Originally posted by Tahuya Rat
on it's way to rules comittee.

Merely a formality. I've seen the rules committee in action. They deal the bills out like a deck of cards, the next meeting each member reports that the bills assigned to him or her comply with the rules. On to the full House of Representatives it goes.

 

[bbbom]

Don Cox's office emailed me the 2nd Substitute Bill but I can't open it here at work. If anyone wants it email ( lori@maxkuney.com )or PM me and I'll forward it.

It's up on the Leg page for our reading pleasure. Not sure what it means but the Bill Info says that as of March 12 it is "Made eligible to be placed on second reading."

Nothing on the calendar that I can find for 1698.

 

[bbbom]

Nothing on the calendar that I could see for Monday according to the Leg page.

I did make up a one page info flyer for the 3 bills and their status if anyone wants it, I can email it to you. Send me a PM or email at bbbom1@excite.com

The other email is my work one & I won't be back there until Tuesday morning.

 

[Tod]

HB1698 has passed out of the House and now moves on the State Senate.

It is now time to contact your Senators!

 

[Tod]

It's now in the hands of the Senate Parks, Fish and Wildlife committee.
Here's the guys to bug next, especially if any of them are representing your district.



Senator Bob Oke (R-26), Chair
Senator Larry Sheahan (R-9) Vice-Chair
Senator Mark Doumit (D-19), Ranking Member
Senator Luke Esser (R-48)
Senator Ken Jacobsen (D-46)
Senator Bob Morton (R-7)
Senator Harriet Spanel (D-40)
Senator Dan Swecker (R-20)

 

[bbbom]

Parks, Fish & Wildlife
Senate Full Committee Senate Hearing Rm 2 3/25/03 1:30 pm
J. A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:

1. SHB 1136 - Implementing the recommendations of the state parks and outdoor recreation funding task force relating to the use of the outdoor recreation account.

2. SHB 1335 - Continuing the development of water trail sites in Washington state.

3. HB 1993 - Authorizing the parks and recreation commission to rent certain undeveloped land for a term of forty years.

4. 2SHB 1698 - Concerning the distribution and use of funds provided to off-road vehicle and nonhighway road recreational activities.

5. SGA 9124 - STEPHEN THARINGER, Member, Salmon Recovery Funding Board.



Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

 

[bbbom]

Ooops - doubled up

 

[Tod]

Howdy Folks,

My buddy, Dave Bowers went to the hearing today and here's his brief comments:

+++++++++++++
The system is working. The Senate had a public hearing on SSHB 1698 today. Even though there were 10 folks favoring it and only 5 opposed, the committee made comments like:
1. Maybe ORV's have to be subsidized like the transit system.
2. We can't let DNR close ORV facilities because of funding when we already have the money in this ORV account.
3. Why does the WTA need this funding source when there are so many other funding sources for non-motorized.

What's next. This type of bill has to be out of committee by April 4th although I expect them to vote on it by the 3rd.
+++++++++++++++++++++++

Time to send another email or two. Keep after it, if we brake-check it here, it'll be a lot less painful and expensive than in the courts later.

 

[bbbom]

Good to hear some positive news on this one.

I'd be curious to find out who is saying such things.

 

[Tod]

I talked to NMA lobbyist Dave Bowers today and asked about who on this committee is on our side and this is Dave's response:

Swecker for sure and most likely Morton and Doumit. Oke is hard to read as well as Sheahan and Esser.
Jacobsen is for it and I'm told Spanel follows his lead.

 

[Tod]

:| The bill passed out of th Senate committee 6-2 :|

Now it moves to the full Senate for a vote by the end of the week or sooner.

 

[bbbom]

:| :flame:

 

[bbbom]

Wait a minute!!! I just read the Committee's amendment to the bill which is what actually passed and it isn't so bad if I understand it correctly.

The way I read it, they basically did away with the original bill and replaced it with simply forming an advisory committee to review the existing formula & policies and make a recommendation on it by January 1, 2004.

Anyone see it differently than that?

Here's the Passing Amendment to SSHB1698:

1698-S2 AMS PFW S2695.2
2SHB 1698 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife

1 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the
2 following:
3 "Sec. 1. RCW 46.09.280 and 1986 c 206 s 13 are each amended to
4 read as follows:
5 (1) The interagency committee for outdoor recreation shall
6 establish ((a committee of nonhighway road recreationists, including
7 representatives of organized ORV groups,)) the nonhighway and off-road
8 vehicle advisory committee to provide advice regarding the
9 administration of this chapter. The nonhighway and off-road vehicle
10 advisory committee consists of a proportional representation of persons
11 with recreational experience in areas identified in the most recent
12 fuel use study, including people with off-road vehicle, hiking,
13 hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing experience. Only
14 representatives of organized ORV groups may be voting members of the
15 committee with respect to expenditure of funds received under RCW
16 46.09.110.
17 (2) By January 1, 2004, the nonhighway and off-road vehicle
18 advisory committee must review the existing nonhighway and off-road
19 vehicle distribution formulas and policies in RCW 46.09.170 and develop
20 recommendations for statutory changes. The recommendations should be
21 consistent with the results of the most recent fuel use study, and
22 address the operation and maintenance needs of existing facilities.
23 For the review in this subsection, the committee must include
24 representatives of county sheriffs, recreational land managers, the
25 state parks and recreation commission, the department of fish and
26 wildlife, and the department of natural resources, and the chairs of
27 the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction
28 over this issue."
1
2SHB 1698 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife
1 On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "programs;" strike the
2 remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 46.09.280."
EFFECT: The nonhighway and off-road vehicle advisory committee is
created. The committee must make recommendations to the Legislature by
January 1, 2004, on future distribution of off-road vehicle and
nonhighway funds.
--- END ---

 

[Tahuya Rat]

Originally posted by bbbom
The nonhighway and off-road vehicle
10 advisory committee consists of a proportional representation of persons
11 with recreational experience in areas identified in the most recent
12 fuel use study, including people with off-road vehicle, hiking,
13 hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing experience. Only
14 representatives of organized ORV groups may be voting members of the
15 committee with respect to expenditure of funds received under RCW
16 46.09.110.

EFFECT: The nonhighway and off-road vehicle advisory committee is
created. The committee must make recommendations to the Legislature by
January 1, 2004, on future distribution of off-road vehicle and
nonhighway funds.
--- END ---

If I read this right, even though non motorized users are on the committee, only ORV reps can vote, however, their votes must be in line proportional to the last fuel use survey which almost completely excluded ORVs. This oughta be interesting :laugh:

On the bright side, nothing's changing until 1/1/04 :yeehaw:

 

[Tahuya Rat]

Lest I forget, a huge THANK YOU to the NMA, particularly TOD, for looking out for us, and to diligent wordsmiths like BBBOM whose efforts have apparently made a difference :worship: :thumb:

Still looks like there's lots to be done before the end of the year to straighten this mess out, but all is not lost, and we all still need to donate some sweat & time on trail work parties.

 

[Tod]

Only representatives of organized ORV groups may be voting members of the committee with respect to expenditure of funds received under RCW 46.09.110.

The 110 part is just your ORV tab money.
The fuel tax funds are still up for grabs.

 

[Tahuya Rat]

Hmmm, that don't sound so good :|

Got a letter from Bob Oke today, will re type it in the AM, could use some help on the RCW stuff in my reply.

thanks

 

[bbbom]

Thanks for the clarification Tod, I didn't catch that part either.

T-Rat, I'll be around on the net today so if you get it close & need help post, pm or email me. Probably won't be online much after 5 pm today until Thursday due to kid's spring break which I decided to join in. :)

 

[Tod]

:| Washington State Senate passed HB1698 Friday, it now awaits the Governor's signature. :whiner:


:p The NMA will continue to fight this and all other attacks against ORV funding. The plan has been formulated and will be annouced in a couple of days.
:p