FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2386

                         C 206 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Requiring the text of applicable state or federal law or rule be provided as part of agency technical assistance.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Representatives D. Schmidt, Dyer, Thompson, Radcliff, Hargrove, Sheahan, Chappell, Cairnes, Cooke, Crouse, Scheuerman, Campbell, Honeyford, Buck, Huff, Elliot, Clements, Foreman, Quall, Backlund, Hymes, Costa, Mulliken and McMahan).

House Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:  The technical assistance portion of the 1995 regulatory reform law requires state agencies to adopt policies encouraging voluntary compliance by individuals and businesses subject to regulation.

All counties and cities are authorized to adopt comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances.  Some counties and cities plan under the Growth Management Act, which includes a number of requirements, such as the designation of critical areas.

Summary:  During or shortly after a technical assistance visit, consultation, or other site inspection or visit to a facility, various state agencies are required to provide the business with a copy of the text of a specific section or subsection of a state or federal law or rule with which the business is found not to be in compliance.

A statement describing the subject of each interpretive or policy statement issued by a state agency, and the name of a person at the agency from whom a copy of the interpretive or policy statement may be obtained, shall be published in the Washington State Register.

The owner of a parcel of property that contains either his or her single-family dwelling, or is five acres or less in size, may make a written request that the county or city give the property owner a written statement of zoning restrictions and critical area designations applicable to the property.  The county or city must provide this written statement of restrictions within 30 days, or attorneys' fees and costs must be paid if the property owner obtains a writ of mandamus requiring the county or city to provide the statement of restrictions.

Each city or county of 10,000 or more in population that plans under the Growth Management Act shall designate "permit assistance" staff.  The municipal research council and the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development shall assist the local permit assistance staff by compiling and producing handouts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     95 0

Senate    44 0 (Senate amended)

House         (House refused to concur)

Senate    49 0 (Senate amended)

House     96 2 (House concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996

       January 1, 1997 (Sections 6-8)