Committee hears unanimous support for bill to create a Washington state civil air patrol

The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6,046 on Feb. 20, a proposal to create a Washington state civil air patrol within the Washington Military Department. Staff described the measure as largely consistent with a previously considered House companion bill and said the proposal would not change federal Civil Air Patrol authorities.

Brigadier General Paul Sellers, Deputy Director of the Washington Military Department, said the bill ‘‘puts the Washington wing of the Civil Air Patrol under the Washington Military Department,’’ allowing the governor to order the state civil air patrol into active state service for missions that include cadet training, communications, disaster relief, cybersecurity missions, search and rescue and other support functions. Colonel Sid Wiggs, commander of the Washington Civil Air Patrol, outlined benefits including increased missions for aerial survey, LIDAR, geospatial analysis and community support, and said integration would streamline coordination and training.

Robert Ezell, director of the Emergency Management Division, told the committee the legislation would strengthen disaster response and surge capacity by improving training, planning and operational relationships without creating a new state program. He added the change ‘‘doesn’t increase costs’’ in practice because operational mission costs would be transparent and borne as missions arise, though the Department of Transportation had placed an indeterminate fiscal marker in the fiscal note and staff agreed to follow up with Appropriations regarding any outstanding concerns.

Veteran and civic groups supported a swift floor vote. Charles Wharton of the Veterans Legislative Coalition urged a due pass and said the change would help organize missions ahead of spring melt and the coming fire season.

The committee did not take a final vote at the hearing and asked staff and agency witnesses to provide further information on the DOT fiscal note and any appropriations implications before the bill’s next committee stops.