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Fish and Game urges temporary hold on DES transfers, seeks to keep ARPA-funded review staff through year-end
Summary
Fish and Game asked lawmakers to let four ARPA-funded environmental review positions remain with the department through the end of the ARPA funding period to allow a smoother transfer of duties to the Department of Environmental Services (DES); the governor's budget would shift three positions to DES and leave one in Fish and Game.
Stephanie Simic, executive director of Fish and Game, told the Finance Division I work session the governor’s budget moves four environmental review positions that have been ARPA-funded: three of those positions are proposed to move into the Department of Environmental Services (DES), and one would remain in Fish and Game.
Simic said the department and DES have been discussing the transition and that DES is supportive of a phased approach. “In order to make this a functional system and a successful transition, if this is gonna move forward, we’re gonna need more time,” Simic said, asking the committee to allow the ARPA-funded positions to remain in Fish and Game through the end of the ARPA funding period (calendar year end) so staff could work with DES on rules, best management practices and a smoother handoff.
Why it matters: Fish and Game staff argued the environmental permitting and review work is complex and intertwined with the agency’s operations. Simic said the department has rebuilt capacity and reduced a backlog; removing multiple positions now would “disband our environmental review unit and leave us with a skeleton crew,” she said.
Key details and accounting questions
Simic told the committee three of the positions were ARPA-funded through DES and one through Fish and Game’s ARPA accounting unit (accounting unit 2475). The department said it would need a new accounting unit to house any position left in Fish and Game after ARPA funding expires and that the remaining permanent staffer would require an appropriation if not shifted to the Fish and Game Fund.
Committee members discussed funding options. Department staff said HB 2 drafting could create a transparent appropriation line showing ARPA coverage for a portion of the year and Fish and Game or general-fund coverage thereafter. The chair suggested an HB 2 appropriation of $124,018 as a placeholder for the one position while accounting units were established.
Operational capacity and enforcement
Simic said the agency believes it needs at least the equivalent of 1.5 to 1.7 full-time staff to manage the workload that will remain with Fish and Game even after some reviews shift to DES. She said DES leadership is supportive of a phased approach and that DES needs time to develop rules for new responsibilities.
Ending
The department requested the committee allow current ARPA-funded positions to remain in Fish and Game through the ARPA period to ensure continuity and to give DES and Fish and Game time to coordinate rules and procedures. Committee staff said they would draft the appropriation/accounting language and present projections for the committee’s consideration.
