H-1266.1           _______________________________________________
                                   HOUSE BILL 1902
                   _______________________________________________
State of Washington               56th Legislature             1999 Regular Session
By Representatives Haigh, Miloscia, Regala, Linville, DeBolt, Doumit,
Eickmeyer, Rockefeller, Anderson, Kessler and Koster
Read first time 02/10/1999.  Referred to Committee on Capital Budget.
     AN ACT Relating to reducing impacts of floods on people and
habitat; and reenacting and amending RCW 43.155.050.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
     Sec. 1.  RCW 43.155.050 and 1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 918 and 1995 c
376 s 11 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The public works assistance account is hereby established in the
state treasury.  Money may be placed in the public works assistance
account from the proceeds of bonds when authorized by the legislature
or from any other lawful source.  Money in the public works assistance
account shall be used to make loans and to give financial guarantees to
local governments for public works projects.  Moneys in the account may
also be appropriated to provide for state match requirements under
federal law for projects and activities conducted and financed by the
board under the drinking water assistance account.  During the (({-
 1995-97 -})) {+ 1999-2001 +} fiscal biennium, moneys in the public
works assistance account may be appropriated for transfer to the flood
control assistance account to be used for flood control assistance,
including grants under chapter 86.26 RCW.  To the extent that moneys in
the public works assistance account are not appropriated during the
(({- 1995-97 -})) {+ 1999-2001 +} fiscal biennium for public works or
flood control assistance, the legislature may direct their transfer to
the state general fund.  In awarding grants under chapter 86.26 RCW,
the department of ecology shall give strong preference to local
governments that have:  (1) Implemented, or are in the process of
implementing, an ordinance that establishes a flood plain policy that
is substantially more stringent than minimum federal requirements; (2)
completed a comprehensive flood control plan meeting the requirements
of RCW 86.12.200; or (3) (({- constructed, or are in the process of
constructing, a system of overtopping dikes or levees that allow public
access -})) {+ projects that achieve flood management benefits both for
people and for habitat for salmon and steelhead species that are listed
or proposed to be listed under the federal endangered species act +}.
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