SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                                   ESHB 2842

 

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                               FEBRUARY 26, 1992

 

 

Brief Description:  Requiring consideration of previously imposed impact fees during environmental review.

 

SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, Ferguson, Cantwell, Wilson, Morris, Forner, R. Meyers, Wood, Peery, Paris, Miller, Carlson, Wynne, Mitchell and Hochstatter)

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

 

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Madsen, Matson, and Sutherland.

 

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

 

Hearing Dates: February 26, 1992

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Counties and cities that are required or choose to plan under the Growth Management Act are permitted to impose impact fees on development activity to finance infra­structure needs resulting from the development.

 

The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires every governmental agency to review its proposed actions to determine if they might result in an adverse environmental impact.  When authorizing private development activity, the permitting governmental agency may, as a result of a SEPA review, condition the granting of a permit upon mitigating actions, including payment of fees.

 

SUMMARY:

 

A person who is required to pay an impact fee for system improvements under the Growth Management Act shall not be required to pay a fee under SEPA for the same system improvements.

 

A person who is required to pay a fee under SEPA for system improvements shall not be required to pay an impact fee for the same system improvements under the Growth Management Act.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  none requested

 

TESTIMONY FOR:

 

This bill prevents double tax on developers.  Avoids reopening assessment issue and resulting confusion.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  Jim Halstrom, Builders