SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                           ESHB 1519

 

   AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNCOLOGY & ECONOMIC

                  DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 31, 1993

 

 

Brief Description:  Creating an office of housing affordability and regulatory reform.

 

SPONSORS: House Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing (originally sponsored by Representative Ballard)

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Skratek, Chairman; Sheldon, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Erwin, M. Rasmussen, and Williams.

 

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786‑7428)

 

Hearing Dates: March 26, 1993; March 31, 1993

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Housing affordability is a major problem for many residents in the state of Washington.  One area that has received increased attention is the impact of regulations on the cost of housing.

 

Congress, in response to the issue of housing costs and regulations, passed Title XII, Removal of Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing Act, as part of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992.  The act provides grants to states and local governments to identify and remove regulatory barriers that increase housing costs and limit the supply of affordable housing.  The federal funds would be used to cover the costs of developing and implementing state and local strategies to remove regulatory barriers to affordable housing.

 

SUMMARY:

 

The Department of Community Development (DCD) is directed to provide technical assistance to state agencies and local governments on identifying and removing regulatory barriers to the development, placement, and preservation of affordable housing. 

 

DCD's assistance is to include (1) analyzing the impacts of state and local government regulations and actions; (2) exploring techniques and opportunities to reduce the cost of housing through regulatory reform; (3) developing model standards and ordinances to reduce regulatory barriers to affordable housing; (4) providing technical assistance to state agencies and local governments; and (5) preparing state regulatory barrier removal strategies.

 

DCD's Affordable Housing Advisory Board is to advise the department on its housing affordability and regulatory reform activities.  DCD may apply for public and private resources to fund its housing affordability and regulatory reform activities.

 

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

 

The definition of "affordable housing" includes site-built, modular, factory built and mobile homes.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  available

 

TESTIMONY FOR:

 

Regulations contribute to the cost of housing.  The bill would direct DCD to provide assistance to state agencies and local governments and apply for federal funds.  This is one tool that could integrate economic development and housing efforts.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  Michael Piper, DCD; Terri Hotvedt, WA Assn. of Realtors