I spent quite a bit of time reading the bill today. Someone has been at work a long time putting this together. "The lack of open discussion, news stories an debate makes me nervous and suspicious - why do we have a bill without media coverage and discussion?" This might be an understatement. The bill is massive and the ODFW is but a small part. State Senator Starr out of the Hillboro area is the one who introduced the bill. I'm left wondering why such a big shift in the way the State does business is being done under the radar and why it has an emergency declaration.:think:
Here is a summary of the bill. If you read the whole bill bring coffee and a couple set of glasses. Think on Monday I'll be getting a hold of my state senator to ask him what's up.
I truely don't know if this is good or bad yet.
Establishes Oregon Department of Natural Resources and Oregon
Natural Resources Commission. Directs Governor to appoint
Director of Oregon Department of Natural Resources and members of
commission. Establishes Oregon Natural Resources Fund.
Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to department for
purpose of carrying out its duties, functions and powers.
Abolishes State Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Fish and
Wildlife Commission, State Parks and Recreation Department, State
Parks and Recreation Commission, Department of State Lands,
Department of Land Conservation and Development, Land
Conservation and Development Commission, Land Use Board of
Appeals, State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries,
Water Resources Department, Water Resources Commission, Oregon
Watershed Enhancement Board, State Forestry Department, State
Board of Forestry and Oregon Forest Resources Institute.
Transfers duties, functions and powers from abolished
departments, commissions and boards to Oregon Department of
Natural Resources.
Declares emergency, effective on passage.