SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6598

              As Passed Senate, February 12, 1996

Title:  An act relating to local permit assistance.

Brief Description:  Providing for local permit assistance.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Winsley, Sheldon, Haugen, Hale, Snyder, Wood, McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Bauer, Rinehart, Pelz, Franklin, Smith, Drew, Sutherland and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/24/96, 2/2/96 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/12/96, 47-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6598 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, Heavey and Winsley.

Background:  Permit applicants often perceive the permitting process to be labyrinthine and hostile.  There are variations among the counties and cities in the user-friendly character of their permitting counties.  In jurisdictions which have established a counter-assistant position, the permit applicants report having a more positive experience.

Summary of Bill:  Jurisdictions of populations of 10,000 or more that plan under the general planning statutes and under the Growth Management Act (GMA) must designate permit assistance staff.  This staff compiles and maintains handouts containing lists and explanations of local permit laws.  The staff also helps the permit applicant to apply these permit laws to his or her particular project.

The Municipal Research Center and the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED) are directed to provide support and technical assistance to the jurisdictions at their request.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The concept benefits the general public.  The 10,000 population is a workable size.

Testimony Against:  This will be expensive and there is no funding source.

Testified:  Numerous people.