The legislative task force on Funding for Fish, Wildlife and Related Outdoor Recreation and Education will hold its eighth meeting at the State Capitol on Thursday, July 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Room HR 50. From 9 a.m. to noon, the agenda calls for the two workgroups – Conservation Opportunities and Connecting Oregonians to the Outdoors – to meet and finalize their recommendations for full task force consideration. The two workgroups were formed to assess how well alternative funding proposals implement conservation efforts and improve Oregonian’s access to and engagement in outdoor recreation and education opportunities. After lunch, the full task force will convene and hear a summary of recommendations from both workgroups and then assess progress toward their objectives and discuss next steps. The task force was created by House Bill 2402 which was passed by the 2015 Oregon Legislature and signed by Governor Kate Brown. It is charged with developing recommendations to strengthen the State’s ability to conserve natural resources and connect the diversity of Oregonians to nature through outdoor recreation and education opportunities. The task force’s work is directly related to current and future potential conservation, outdoor recreation and education programs and partnerships advanced through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. This includes opportunities linked to hunters and anglers as well as the non-hunting / non-angling members of the public whose values and pursuits are connected to healthy wildlife, habitat, and natural places. The legislature has directed the task force to develop recommendations, including for legislation, that: Identify potential alternative, sustainable funding sources for the above programs and partnerships; Consider potential adjustments that ensure ODFW programs are equitably funded, with future hunting and angling fee increases or alternative revenue sources being developed and implemented in a manner that connects program services with revenue tied to beneficiaries of those programs; Advance opportunities to leverage funds from existing and alternative sources to better achieve ODFW’s public mission. The recommendations are due to the legislature by Sept. 15, 2016, for possible consideration during the 2017 legislative session. Governor Brown has appointed 17 task force members that includes representatives of the outdoor recreation business community; conservation, hunting and fishing interests; outdoor recreation interests other than hunting and fishing; travel and tourism industry; counties government; outdoor education community; sport and commercial fishing industry; and diverse communities that may be underserved or underrepresented by the State’s current programs. Task force members also include four non-voting members of the Oregon Legislature as well as the Chair of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and the ODFW Director. A list of task force members, meeting agendas and materials can be found on the Oregon Legislative Information System. The meeting will be streamed on the legislative website.
