S-4963.1  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8427

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senators Anderson, T. Sheldon, Swecker, Rasmussen, Hochstatter and Morton

Read first time 02/17/98.  Referred to Committee on Government Operations.

Appointing a joint select committee on rural land use and economic development.

    WHEREAS, The legislature passed the Growth Management Act in 1990 and further modifications to the Act in 1991; and

    WHEREAS, The legislative findings in the Growth Management Act state that "the legislature finds that it is in the public interest that economic development programs be shared with communities experiencing insufficient economic growth"; and

    WHEREAS, One of the planning goals of the Growth Management Act is to "encourage economic development throughout the state that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens of this state, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, and encourage growth in areas experiencing insufficient economic growth"; and

    WHEREAS, The legislature has required counties or cities planning under the Growth Management Act to include a "plan, scheme, or design" for a rural element, including rural development; and

    WHEREAS, Under the Growth Management Act rural areas have the opportunity to control locally the economic development of their lands; and

    WHEREAS, The legislature should continue the process of working with rural areas to develop land use laws that contribute to the economic development of rural areas without compromising the unique features of these areas;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on rural land use and economic development be established to develop recommendations to the legislature for laws governing economic development in rural areas consistent with the Growth Management Act; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of ten members from rural districts, three from the majority caucus of each house, two from the minority caucus of each house, appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, respectively; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall operate by majority vote and shall use legislative facilities and staff from senate committee services and the office of program research, but may also call upon the abilities of individuals who possess specific technical expertise or prior experience with the issues to be addressed by the committee; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the senate and the house of representatives shall jointly pay all expenses of the committee, including travel; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its interim findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 31, 1998, and its final report and recommendations to the legislature by December 31, 1999; and 

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee will cease to exist as of January 1, 2000.

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