SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                                   ESCR 8423

 

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 13, 1992

 

 

Brief Description:  Creating a committee for affordable farmworker housing.

 

SPONSORS: Senators Barr and Conner

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & WATER RESOURCES

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Conner, Gaspard, Hansen, and Newhouse.

 

Staff:  John Stuhlmiller (786‑7446)

 

Hearing Dates: January 28, 1992; February 6, 1992

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Concern has been expressed regarding the need for farmworker housing within the state.  Currently that need is estimated to be at least 25,000 housing units.

 

Under the current economic conditions, the need is not being met and it appears unlikely that the situation will change in the near future.

 

SUMMARY:

 

A committee for affordable farmworker housing is created composed of 15 members.  The members include:  (1) one member from each caucus in the Senate; (2) one member from each caucus in the House of Representatives; (3) the chair of the State Building Code Council or designee; (4) two representa­tives of the agricultural community; (5) two farmworker representatives; (6) two representatives of the building industry; (7) a representative of the architecture and design professionals; (8) a representative of private nonprofit farmworker housing organizations; (9) a representative of the cities; and, (10) a representative of the counties.

 

The committee is to explore all aspects of the costs associated with constructing farmworker housing and is to find methods of reducing the costs of constructing such housing by any available means while maintaining adequate health and safety standards.

 

The committee is to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 31, 1992.  The committee is terminated on January 10, 1993.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  none requested

 

TESTIMONY FOR:

 

The provision of farmworker housing is an important issue to the state.  The study set up by this bill provides a balanced approach to solving the issues related to providing sufficient housing.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  John Thayer, State Board of Health; Meg Van Schoorl, Department of Community Development