H-4849.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2316
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By House Committee on Corrections (originally sponsored by Representatives Ballasiotes, Dyer, Radcliff, Lambert, D. Schmidt, Blanton, Robertson, L. Thomas, Elliot, McMahan and Thompson)
Read first time 02/02/96.
AN ACT Relating to siting juvenile correctional facilities; adding a new section to chapter 13.40 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the number and severity of crimes committed by juveniles is increasing at an alarming rate. In addition, many more juveniles than ever before are engaging in serious violent crimes and gang-related crimes against persons and property. The legislature further finds that local communities are becoming increasingly concerned about compromising the safety of their neighborhood as a result of siting juvenile correctional facilities. The intent of this legislation is to establish a community-centered, uniform, and appropriate process for siting juvenile correctional facilities in local communities. The juvenile correctional facility siting process shall include the appropriate notification and meaningful input of local community members before any juvenile corrections facility is sited.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 13.40 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department and other state agencies that have responsibility for siting or contracting for the department's juvenile correctional facilities shall establish a process for early and continuous public participation in establishing or relocating all publicly or privately operated community-based and institutional juvenile correctional facilities. This process shall include advance public notification, public meetings in the local communities affected, opportunities for written and oral comments, and wide dissemination of proposals and alternatives. Prior to initiating this process, the department shall contact local government planning agencies in the communities containing the proposed juvenile correctional facility sites. The department shall coordinate with local government agencies to ensure that opportunities are provided for effective citizen input and to reduce duplication of notice and meetings.
(2) The department shall establish or relocate a privately or publicly operated community-based or institutional juvenile correctional facility only after holding local public meetings and providing public notification to local communities consistent with this section. Public meetings and notice required by local ordinance can be substituted for this requirement if they provide notification and opportunities for public input consistent with this section. A representative from the department shall be present at all public hearings held pursuant to this section, including any meeting required by local ordinance.
(3) When the department has selected three or fewer sites for final consideration for site selection of a publicly or privately operated community-based or institutional juvenile correctional facility, or has entered into negotiations with a provider of a contracted juvenile correctional facility, notification shall be given and public hearings shall be held in the final three or fewer local communities where the siting is proposed. Additional notification and a public hearing shall also be conducted in the local community selected as the final proposed site, prior to completion of the siting process. All hearings and notifications shall be consistent with this chapter.
(4) Throughout this process the department shall provide notification to all newspapers of general circulation in the local area and all local radio stations, television stations, and cable networks.
(5) Notice shall also be provided to appropriate school districts, private schools, kindergartens, city and county libraries, and all other local government offices within a one-half mile radius of the proposed facility.
(6) In addition, the department shall also provide notice to the local chamber of commerce, local economic development agencies, and any other local organizations that request such notification from the department.
(7) Notification in writing shall be provided to all residents and property owners within a one-half mile radius of the proposed site prior to the siting of any privately or community-based or institutional juvenile correctional facility consistent with subsection (3) of this section.
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