Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

Government Reform and  Land Use Committee

BILL ANALYSIS

SB 6739

Title of the Bill:  Requiring assessment of the impact on families before adoption of administrative rules and adoption of local government ordinances or resolutions.

What this Bill Does:  Requires state agencies and local governments to assess the impact of actions on families.

Sponsors:  Senators Hargrove and Oke.

Hearing Date:  2/25/98

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Analysis Prepared By:  Joan Elgee, 786-7135

BACKGROUND:

Many state agencies are authorized to adopt administrative rules to implement statutes.  The rule-making requirements include publishing notice of the proposed rule and conducting a hearing.

Under the Regulatory Fairness Act, agencies must prepare a small business economic impact statement when adopting a rule that imposes more than minor costs on businesses in an industry or if requested to do so by JARRC.  The statement describes the reporting, record keeping, and other compliance requirements of the proposed rule, analyzes the costs of compliance, and addresses other matters.  If the agency finds that the rule has a disproportionate impact on small businesses, the agency must reduce the costs on small businesses, where legal and feasible do to so. 

Cities, counties, and other local governments act legislatively by adopting ordinances and resolutions.

The Family Policy Council coordinates the state's efforts in providing services to children and families, and implements and provides oversight of the Community Public Health and Safety Networks.  The Family Policy Council is composed of the chief administrator of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Department of Health, the Department of Social and Health Services, the Employment Security Department, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, and one legislator from each caucus of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The Legislature has declared state policy for the provision of services to children and families. This policy includes serving children and families as a unit, ensuring that the best interest of the child are paramount, providing coordinated services, and providing culturally relevant services.

SUMMARY:

When issuing notice of a proposed rule, a state agency must include an assessment of the impact of the rule on families.  Likewise, a local government proposing an ordinance or resolution must include an assessment of the impact of the proposed ordinance or resolution on families.

The Family Policy Council must develop guidelines for state agencies and local governments to follow when making the family impact assessments.  In making their assessments, state agencies and local governments are to be guided by the state policy for the provision of services to children and families, and the guidelines adopted by the Council.