The Department of Commerce (the Department) is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington.  The Department is responsible for promoting community and economic development statewide by assisting communities to improve the quality of citizens' lives and supporting the state's businesses to increase economic vitality and competitiveness while maintaining a healthy environment.  The Department's community and economic development efforts include efforts to increase economic opportunity, local planning to manage growth, providing public infrastructure, facilitating technology development and transfer, and public safety efforts.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) sets information technology policy and direction for the state.  The Geospatial Program Office within the OCIO provides support for statewide geospatial initiatives and coordinates with state agencies to provide the geospatial information required to inform policy decisions. 

The Department of Commerce (the Department), in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), is required to conduct a study regarding the use of aerial imaging technology for state, local, special purpose district, and tribal government purposes, leveraging the state's existing geospatial imaging program.  The study must, at a minimum, include the following:

• an assessment of the ways in which state agencies, local governments, special purpose districts, and tribal governments currently use aerial imaging technology and benefit from having access to aerial imaging technology;
• an assessment of the types of imagery currently used or needed and the frequency of use;
• a determination of the minimum resolution level of aerial imaging that would best serve the majority of users statewide;
• an estimate of the current expenditures by local governments for aerial image acquisition and organization and of the cost of procuring, once per biennium, and administering a high-quality aerial imagery program on a statewide basis;
• an estimate of the economies of scale between individual flights procured by individual jurisdictions and the cost of procuring a single flight to obtain aerial imaging of the entire state;
• a determination of the best available mechanism for cost sharing between jurisdictions for the acquisition and management of aerial imagery; and
• recommendations about current sources that provide imaging data, further steps to improve the collection of aerial imaging data, and the steps necessary to implement a statewide aerial imaging collection and distribution system through the state's existing geospatial program.                                                                                     

In conducting the study, the Department must also seek recommendations from the OCIO regarding ways in which the use of aerial imaging technology could be limited by state law to strike an appropriate balance between effective and efficient utilization for legitimate government purposes and doing no more imaging than is necessary at no higher resolution than is necessary.

The Department may complete the study directly or contract the study to a third party.  The final delivered product must be reported by the Department to the Legislature by June 1, 2023.

(In support) This is an important preparatory bill that reflects a vision for the future.  Aerial imagery is a critical tool for making decisions at the government level.  State, local, and tribal governments purchase aerial imaging data independently, which often results in multiple payments for the same data.  Many local governments cannot afford to buy higher quality data when it is available.  This bill would explore cost effective ways for local governments to purchase aerial images at the state level.  The bill would allow all jurisdictions, regardless of size, to purchase data from the state.  The bill would identify the potential uses of aerial imagery.  King County and Clark County have been using aerial imaging for many years, and the quality and the usefulness of the images are constantly improving.  Aerial imaging allows county assessors to get better data in less intrusive ways.  This bill would benefit taxpayers and local governments.  The data currently provided through the state is often not sufficient for county assessor needs.  The bill incorporates the input of the Department of Commerce and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

(Opposed) None.