SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5498

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 11, 1993

Brief Description:  Concerning the siting of essential public facilities.

SPONSORS: Senators Niemi, Haugen, Wojahn and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Katie Healy (786‑7784)

Hearing Dates: February 12, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Every city and town planning under the Growth Management Act must include in the comprehensive plan a process for identifying and siting essential public facilities.  Essential public facilities include those that are typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities and state or regional transportation facilities, state and local correctional facilities, and in-patient facilities, including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, and group homes.

The Office of Financial Management maintains a list of essential state public facilities that are required or likely to be built in the next six years, and may add facilities to the list.

No growth management plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities.

SUMMARY:

Essential public facilities are defined as those that are critical for the protection of the public health and safety or those public facilities typically difficult to site.  Included in essential public facilities are those owned, operated or licensed by the state that are essential for the operation of state programs.

The list maintained by the Office of Financial Management includes the types of essential public facilities owned, operated, or licensed by the state required or likely to be built or needed by a state agency for its programs within the next six years.  The list does not include public facilities owned, operated, or licensed by the state which are not typically difficult to site or are not critical to the protection of public health and safety.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested