FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2567

                         C 254 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Notifying the assessor of real property actions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wolfe, Rust, Scheuerman, Scott, Costa, Chappell, Linville, Dickerson, Romero, McMahan, Murray, Tokuda, Morris and Conway.

House Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Background:  In 1995, the Legislature enacted provisions to provide a coordinated process for evaluating and approving permit requests within the requirements of the Growth Management Act, the Shoreline Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, and other measures governing land use.  The evaluation of a permit application is concluded with the issuance of a notice of decision by the local government.  The notice must be provided to the permit applicant and any other person requesting a copy.  There is no requirement that a notice of decision be provided to the county assessor.

There is no requirement that a city, town, or county planning under the Growth Management Act provide copies of its comprehensive plan or development regulations to the county assessor.

There is no requirement for a state agency that is participating in the coordinated permit process for environmental review of a project to notify the county assessor when the agency makes a final decision with respect to a permit being sought from the agency.

The county assessor is required to maintain a system for the revaluation of property on a continuous basis so that every parcel in the county is reviewed at least once every four years.  The county assessor is not specifically authorized to interrupt this revaluation process and revaluate property upon the receipt of a notice of decision on a permit application or upon receiving notice from a city, town, or county of an action affecting the value of real property.

Summary:  A city, town, or county planning under the Growth Management Act must provide a notice of decision on a local project application to the county assessor.  The notice provided to the property owner must also state that the property owner may request a change in valuation for property tax purposes.

A city, town, or county planning under the Growth Management Act must provide a copy of its comprehensive plan and development regulations to the county assessor by July 31 of each year, as well as any amendments to the plan and regulations that were adopted before July 31.  Cities and counties must provide this information to the county assessors beginning July 1, 1997.

A state permit agency that is participating in the coordinated permit process for environmental review of a project must notify the county assessor when the agency makes a final decision with respect to a permit sought from the agency.

A county assessor is authorized, if requested by a property owner, notwithstanding any existing program of revaluation, to change the valuation of a parcel of property after receipt of a notice of decision or other information from a city, town, or the county affecting the value of the property.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    47 0 (Senate amended)

House         (House refused to concur)

Senate    47 0 (Senate amended)

House     97 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  June 6, 1996