SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2170

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Commerce & Labor, April 1, 1997

Title:  An act relating to investments of state‑wide significance.

Brief Description:  Expediting projects of state‑wide significance.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Pennington, Sheldon and Ogden).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  3/31/97, 4/1/97 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Anderson, Franklin, Fraser, Heavey and Newhouse.

Staff:  Jack Brummel (786-7428)

Background:   Major industrial investments can have a significant impact on a city=s or a county=s regulatory process and economic well-being.  State recognition of and assistance with major industrial investments or economic development projects can expedite their completion.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Industrial investments of statewide significance are defined using a capital investment threshold dependent on the population in a county.  The Director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) may designate a project as one of statewide significance in special circumstances.

Counties and cities are to include in their written plans a process to expedite the review, approval, permitting, and completion of projects of statewide significance.

CTED must assign an ombudsman to each project of statewide significance to assemble a team of state, local government, and private officials to help meet the project=s planning and development needs.  Planning documents for workforce development, higher education, transportation, ecology, and shoreline management are to address the needs of projects of statewide significance.  Additional state assistance for school construction may be given to districts that face a special school housing burden because of industrial projects of statewide significance.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The amendment removes the language related to fees and adds language requiring planning documents to address the needs of projects of statewide significance.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is common sense.  The fee structure portion of the bill is sending a mixed message though.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Al Bauer; Randy Lewis, City of Tacoma; Dave McCraney, CTED.