HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5299

                       As Passed House

                       April 16, 1997

Title:  An act relating to shoreline management permits.

Brief Description:  Requiring that a petition of review be served upon local government.

Sponsors:  Senators Swecker, Fraser and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Reform & Land Use:  3/27/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  4/16/97, 96‑1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM & LAND USE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Cairnes, Vice Chairman; Sherstad, Vice Chairman; Romero, Ranking Minority Member; Lantz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bush; Fisher; Gardner; Mielke; Mulliken and Thompson.

Staff:  Kimberly Klaiber (786-7156).

Background:  The Shoreline Management Act establishes a cooperative program of shoreline management between local governments and the state.  Under the act, counties and cities are required to develop comprehensive shoreline use plans and development regulations.  A shoreline substantial development permit is required for development in shorelines of the state.

The Shorelines Hearings Board is a quasi-judicial body established within the Environmental Hearings Office.  The Shorelines Hearings Board determines appeals of the Department of Ecology=s shoreline rules and appeals of local government decisions on shoreline permits.  A petition for review of a local government shoreline decision must be filed with the Shorelines Hearings Board within 21 days of the decision, and copies must be served on the Department of Ecology and the Office of the Attorney General.

Summary of Bill:  Copies of the petition for review of a local government shoreline decision must be served on the local government in addition to the Department of Ecology and the attorney general.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This simply speeds up the process.  If a decision is being appealed by an agency, the local government is notified so that it can explain its action at the hearing.  If a private party appeals, sometimes the local government is not notified and is not available to answer questions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dave Williams, Association of Washington Cities (pro); and Tom McBride, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (pro).