S-4636.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6717

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

 

By Senators Thibaudeau and Roach

 

Read first time 01/26/96.  Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

 

Creating the Fircrest school planning board.



    AN ACT Relating to Fircrest school; adding new sections to chapter 79.01 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 43.131 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes the unique nature of the Fircrest residential habilitation center and that its physical facilities and staff resources have great potential to serve current residents and additional citizens with developmental disabilities, as well as the community at-large.  In recognition of the population and economic growth of the surrounding community, the legislature directs that a planning and implementation process be instituted to enhance and develop the properties comprising Fircrest school to provide additional opportunities for residents to interact with other members of the community, serve citizens with developmental disabilities living in surrounding communities and state-wide, coordinate with the city of Shoreline, school districts, state and local agencies, social service agencies, and the community at-large, improve the environment through integration of parks, greenbelts, and forest lands, make the most effective use of state personnel resources, and provide opportunities for family members to reside near residents of Fircrest school.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  (1) The Fircrest planning board is hereby created to produce a plan, to be coordinated with the city of Shoreline's comprehensive plan under chapters 36.70A, 36.70B, and 36.70C RCW, for the enhancement and development of the properties comprising Fircrest school, to include properties that are owned and managed by the department of social and health services and properties that are subject to the charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory institution account, and to monitor and report to the legislature regarding implementation of the plan.  The board shall be the city of Shoreline's planning advisory committee for the properties comprising Fircrest school, with the city of Shoreline as the lead agency during  the process for producing the city's comprehensive plan under chapters 36.70A, 36.70B, and 36.70C RCW.

    (2) The board shall be composed of eleven members appointed by the governor.  The board shall include:  (a) The superintendent of Fircrest school; (b) one other member representing the department of social and  health services; (c) one member representing the department of natural resources; (d) one member representing the city of Shoreline; (e) one member representing King county government; (f) one member representing the Shoreline school district; (g) one member from a list of three citizens with developmental disabilities; (h) one member from a list of three citizens who are residents, or legal representatives of residents, of Fircrest school; (i) one member from a list of three persons who are either providing or receiving community services for persons with developmental disabilities, or their legal representatives; (j) one member from a list of three citizens who are residents of neighborhoods adjacent to Fircrest school; and (k) one member from a list of three persons nominated by labor organizations at Fircrest school.

    (3) The board shall consult with agencies currently having facilities located at Fircrest school, residents of surrounding neighborhoods, and real estate marketing specialists and shall develop a plan that will be compatible and attractive to surrounding neighborhoods and the city of Shoreline.  The plan may list several alternatives and must also include an architectural plan that will ensure the appropriateness of future construction and promote integration between Fircrest school and surrounding neighborhoods.  An environmental document must support the plan.  A plan receiving support from the majority of board members must be submitted to the secretary of the department of social and health services, for the secretary's approval, and to the city of Shoreline.  Upon approval by the secretary and review by the city of Shoreline, the secretary shall submit a report with the approved plan to the legislature during the 1997 legislative session.  If a majority of board members is not able to approve a plan for the secretary's approval or if the secretary or city disapproves a plan, the board shall report on the results of the planning process to the legislature during the 1997 legislative session.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  (1) The department of social and health services has authority to commence implementation of the plan, including demolition or renovation of existing structures, construction of new structures, and the lease or exchange of real property for residential and commercial development, beginning April 1, 1997, unless the plan is amended or disapproved by the legislature.  The board shall monitor and report to the legislature annually on the implementation of the plan.

    (2) The state auditor shall conduct performance audits of the board during the years 1998 and 2000.

    (3) In addition to the sunset review required under chapter 43.131 RCW, the legislative budget committee shall conduct a biennial review of the Fircrest planning board in 1998.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  The developmentally disabled assistance account is hereby established in the state treasury.  Income generated from the lease or exchange of real property at Fircrest school must be placed in the account and be used to provide resources for the benefit of all state citizens with developmental disabilities.  The department of social and health services is exempt from RCW 79.01.006, 79.01.007, and 79.01.009 in managing the real property in order to gain the greatest possible benefit for citizens with developmental disabilities.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 43.131 RCW to read as follows:

    The Fircrest planning board and its powers and duties shall be terminated on June 30, 2000, as provided in section 6 of this act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 43.131 RCW to read as follows:

    The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective June 30, 2001:

    (1) RCW 79.01.--- and 1996 c ... s 1 (section 1 of this act);

    (2) RCW 79.01.--- and 1996 c ... s 2 (section 2 of this act);

    (3) RCW 79.01.--- and 1996 c ... s 3 (section 3 of this act); and

    (4) RCW 79.01.--- and 1996 c ... s 4 (section 4 of this act).

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 79.01 RCW.

 


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