HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5876

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Title:  An act relating to population determinations and projections by the office of financial management.

Brief Description:  Making population determinations and projections.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  3/28/95, 3/29/95 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt; Sommers; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background: The Growth Management Act was enacted in 1990 and 1991.

Among other requirements, a county planning under all of the requirements of the Growth Management Act must designate urban growth areas within the county inside of which urban growth shall occur and outside of which urban growth shall not occur.

The county uses a 20-year population forecast prepared by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) as the basis of designating its urban growth areas.  Prior to finally adopting projections, OFM is required to review its population projections with the counties that plan under all of the requirements of the Growth Management Act.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The 20-year population forecast that OFM prepares for each county to use as the basis of designating its urban growth areas is a range of projected population rather than a single projected figure, with the middle of the range representing OFM's estimate of the most likely 20-year population projection for the county.  The first ranges of population growth shall be completed for every county by December 31, 1995.

A comprehensive plan adopted before December 31, 1995, shall be considered in compliance with the 20-year population projection if the projection upon which the comprehensive plan is based is within the range that is later adopted.

OFM must review 20-year population projections with cities, as well as counties, before final adoption.  If any county or city believes that a projection will not accurately reflect actual population growth in a county, it may petition OFM to revise the projection.

A county may designate an urban growth area that does not include a city if the area is already characterized by urban growth or is adjacent to such an area.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:  The provision was added clarifying that an urban growth area may be designated that does not include a city.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The underlying bill is an agreed upon measure that clarifies population forecast provisions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senators Haugen and Winsley, prime sponsors; Dave Williams, Association of Washington Cities; Don Chance, Association of Washington Businesses; and Paul Parker, Washington State Association of Counties.