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                     ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL 2712

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State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Ballasiotes, Campbell, Edmondson, Long, Chappell, Johanson, Padden, Eide, Appelwick, Tate and Brumsickle

Read first time 01/21/94.  Referred to Committee on Corrections.

Requiring the department of corrections to notify communities and hold public meetings concerning the possible siting of an adult work release facility in that area.

    AN ACT Relating to the siting of adult work release, prerelease, or any community-based facility operated or contracted out by the department of corrections; adding a new section to chapter 72.65 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 72.65 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department and other state agencies that have responsibility for siting the department's facilities shall establish a process for early and continuous public participation in establishing or relocating work release or other community-based facilities.  This process shall include public meetings in the local communities affected, opportunities for written and oral comments, and wide dissemination of proposals and alternatives.

    (2) The department may establish or relocate a work release or other community-based facility only after holding local public meetings and providing public notification to local communities consistent with this chapter.

    (3) When the department has selected three or fewer sites for final consideration for site selection of a work release or other community-based facility, notification shall be given and public hearings shall be held in the final three or fewer local communities where the siting is proposed.  Additional notification and a public hearing shall also be conducted in the local community selected as the final proposed site, prior to completion of the siting process.  All hearings and notifications shall be consistent with this chapter.

    (4) Throughout this process the department shall provide notification to all newspapers of general circulation in the local area and all local radio stations, television stations, and cable networks.

    (5) Notice shall also be provided to appropriate school districts, private schools, kindergartens, city and county libraries, and all other local government offices within a one-half mile radius of the proposed facility.

    (6) In addition, the department shall also provide notice to the local chamber of commerce, local economic development agencies, and any other local organizations that request such notification from the department.

    (7) Notification in writing shall be provided to all residents and/or property owners within a one-half mile radius of the proposed site.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1994.

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