SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6716

                    As of January 31, 2000

Title:  An act relating to creating the growth management infrastructure account.

Brief Description:  Creating the growth management infrastructure account.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin, Patterson, Horn, Haugen, Kline, Benton, Franklin, Oke, Rasmussen, Winsley and Hale.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/2/2000.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

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.

The capital facilities plan element consists of (a) an inventory of existing capital facilities owned by public entities; (b) a forecast of future needs for capital facilities; (c) proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new capital facilities; (d) at least a six-year plan that will finance such capital facilities within projected funding capacities and clearly identifies sources of public money for such purposes; and (e) a requirement to reassess the land use element if probable funding falls short of meeting existing needs.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature finds that the needed infrastructure identified in the capital facilities elements of comprehensive plans far exceed existing funding.  A growth management infrastructure account is created in the state treasury.  Moneys may be placed in the account from the proceeds of bonds when authorized by the Legislature or from any other lawful source.  The Public Works Board must use appropriated moneys from the account to provide financial assistance to qualifying local governments and must manage appropriated funds from the account.  AGrowth infrastructure projects@ means costs related to bridges, roads, and domestic waters, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and solid waste/recycling projects.  Units of local governments eligible for these funds are cities, towns, special purpose districts, and counties.  Requirements are specified to qualify for financial assistance.  Existing debt or financial obligations of local governments may not be refinanced with moneys from the growth management infrastructure account.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except Section 3 takes effect September 1, 2000.