8423-S.E AMH HO H4960.1

ESCR 8423 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Housing

    Strike everything after "WHEREAS," on page 1, line 1, and insert the following:  "Affordable farmworker housing is essential to the state; and

    WHEREAS, The need for affordable farmworker housing is estimated to be at least twenty-five thousand units; and

    WHEREAS, The need for affordable farmworker housing is not currently being met due to the costs associated with constructing the housing; and

    WHEREAS, The need for affordable farmworker housing will not be met without economic incentives;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a committee for affordable farmworker housing be created, composed of fifteen members as follows:  Two members of the senate, one from each of the major caucuses, who are appointed by the president of the senate; two members of the house of representatives, one from each of the major caucuses, who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; the chair of the state building code council, or designee; and ten additional members selected by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, including:  Two representatives of the agricultural community involved in providing farmworker housing; two farmworker representatives; two representatives of the building industry, one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington; a representative of residential architecture and design professionals; one representative of private nonprofit farmworker housing organizations; one representative of cities; and one representative of counties; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the following shall be advisory, nonvoting members of the committee:  The director of the department of community development, or designee; the director of the department of labor and industries, or designee; the secretary of health, or designee; a member of the state board of health, appointed by the chair of the state board of health; the commissioner of the employment security department, or designee; and the director of the state energy office, or designee; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That there shall be no reimbursement to nonlegislative committee members for committee activities; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall explore all aspects of the cost associated with constructing farmworker housing and shall seek to find methods of reducing costs by any available means while maintaining adequate health and safety standards.  In studying the issue, the committee shall, at a minimum, examine the potential benefits of modifying construction and thermal performance standards for seasonally occupied housing, and the effect of establishing an energy rebate program for seasonal housing constructed according to model standards; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall also explore financing techniques that can be used for the construction or rehabilitation of seasonally or year-round occupied farmworker housing; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee may seek assistance from appropriate state or federal agencies; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 31, 1992; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall be terminated January 10, 1993."