S-1220

AN ACT Relating to the permit assistance center; amending RCW 90.60.030, 90.60.040, and 90.60.050; repealing RCW 43.131.387 and 43.131.388; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 90.60.030 and 1997 c 429 s 35 are each amended to read as follows:

The permit assistance center is established within the department. The center shall:

(1) Establish regional center offices at each of the four department regional or field offices;

(2) Publish and keep current one or more handbooks containing lists and explanations of all permit laws at each of its regional center offices. To the extent possible, the handbook shall include relevant local, state, federal, and tribal laws. A state agency or local government shall provide a reasonable number of copies of application forms, statutes, ordinances, rules, handbooks, and other informational material requested by the center and shall otherwise fully cooperate with the center. The center shall seek the cooperation of relevant federal agencies and tribal governments;

((~~(2)~~)) (3) Establish, and make known, a point of contact at each of its regional center offices for distribution of the handbook and advice to the public as to its interpretation in any given case;

((~~(3)~~)) (4) Establish, and make known, a point of contact at each of its regional center offices responsible for identifying and providing contact information for all local, state, and federal permits necessary to complete a project to applicants or other interested persons;

(5) Work closely and cooperatively with the business license center in providing efficient and nonduplicative service to the public;

((~~(4)~~)) (6) Seek the assignment of employees from the permit agencies listed under RCW 90.60.020(6)(a) to serve on a rotating basis in staffing the center;

((~~(5)~~)) (7) Collect and disseminate information to public and private entities on federal, state, local, and tribal government programs that rely on private professional expertise to assist governmental agencies in project permit review; and

(((6) Provide an annual report to the legislature on potential conflicts and perceived inconsistencies among existing statutes. The first report shall be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the house of representatives and senate by December 1, 1996)) (8)(a) Work cooperatively with residents, local governments, and businesses in rural counties, and establish and implement plans and procedures for enhancing knowledge of and access to the center's services for individuals, businesses, and public agencies in rural counties and for businesses considering locating or expanding in rural counties; and

(b) Provide a biennial report to the legislature on the status of the center's plans and procedures for enhancing rural counties' access to and usage of the center as specified in RCW 90.60.030(8).

Sec. 2. RCW 90.60.040 and 1995 c 347 s 604 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((~~Not later than January 1, 1996,~~)) The center shall establish by rule an administrative process for the designation of a coordinating permit agency for a project.

(2) The administrative process shall consist of the establishment of guidelines for designating the coordinating permit agency for a project. If a permit agency is the lead agency for purposes of chapter 43.21C RCW, that permit agency shall be the coordinating permit agency. In other cases, the guidelines shall require that at least the following factors be considered in determining which permit agency has the greatest overall jurisdiction over the project:

(a) The types of facilities or activities that make up the project;

(b) The types of public health and safety and environmental concerns that should be considered in issuing permits for the project;

(c) The environmental medium that may be affected by the project, the extent of those potential effects, and the environmental protection measures that may be taken to prevent the occurrence of, or to mitigate, those potential effects;

(d) The regulatory activity that is of greatest importance in preventing or mitigating the effects that the project may have on public health and safety or the environment; and

(e) The statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to the project and the complexity of those requirements.

Sec. 3. RCW 90.60.050 and 1995 c 347 s 605 are each amended to read as follows:

Upon the request of a project applicant, the center shall appoint a project facilitator to assist the applicant in determining which regulatory requirements, processes, and permits may be required for development and operation of the proposed project. If the applicant requests, the project facilitator shall also identify and provide contact information for all local, state, and federal permits necessary to complete a project. The project facilitator shall provide the information to the applicant and explain the options available to the applicant in obtaining the required permits. If the applicant requests, the center shall designate a coordinating permit agency as provided in RCW 90.60.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 43.131.387 (Permit assistance center--Termination) and 1995 c 347 s 617; and

(2) RCW 43.131.388 (Permit assistance center--Repeal) and 1995 c 347 s 618.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 29, 1999.