SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6519

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          State & Local Government, February 3, 2000

Title:  An act relating to planning by general purpose and special purpose local governments.

Brief Description:  Modifying growth management provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Patterson, Eide, Haugen, Goings, Kline, Gardner and Heavey.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/2/2000, 2/3/2000 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6519 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The comprehensive plan of a county or city that is required or chooses to plan under the Growth Management Act must consist of a map or maps, and descriptive text covering objectives, principles, and standards used to develop the comprehensive plan.  The plan must be an internally consistent document and all elements must be consistent with the future land use map.  Each comprehensive plan must be adopted and amended with public participation and each comprehensive plan must include a plan, scheme or design for each of the following:  (1) a land use element; (2) a housing element; (3) a capital facilities plan element; (4) a utilities element; and (5) counties must adopt a rural element.

State agencies must comply with the local comprehensive plans and development regulations.

There is no explicit requirement for special purpose districts to comply with comprehensive plans and development regulations adopted under the Growth Management Act (GMA).

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Special purpose districts must comply with local comprehensive plans and development regulations.

Special purpose districts may appeal the countywide planning policy to the Growth Management Hearings Board.

The countywide planning policy may include a policy to ensure an adequate domestic water supply for the projected population growth.

Not later than July 1, 2002, a county planning under the GMA must convene a committee to develop a countywide planning policy for the coordination of planning and delivery of urban governmental services.  The committee consists of representatives of local municipalities and the following special purpose districts:  schools, parks and recreation, libraries or urban governmental services.  The policy must ensure provisions for concurrency are realistic.  Parties involved and the Governor may appeal the policy to the Growth Management Hearings Board.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill removes the requirement that the local comprehensive plan and development regulation with which the special purpose district must comply be consistent with the countywide planning policies.

The substitute bill includes consideration of domestic water availability in the countywide planning policy.

The substitute bill adds the right to appeal to the Growth Management Hearings Board.

The substitute bill defines with more specificity the collaborative process mentioned in the original bill.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill ensures that special purpose districts that build things with impacts on growth are part of the planning process.  The Acollaborative process@ is a bit vague.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Eric Johnson, WA Public Ports Assn.; Warren Dawes, Mason County Community Development Council; Joe Daniels, WA Assn. of Sewer/Water Districts; Dave Williams, Assn. of WA Cities (concerns); Steve Stuart, 1000 Friends of WA; Jeff Eustes, 1000 Friends of WA.