SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2446
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Environment, Energy & Water, March 1, 2002
Title: An act relating to state agency review of water and sewer general comprehensive plans.
Brief Description: Setting time limits for review of water and sewer general comprehensive plans.
Sponsors: House Committee on Local Government & Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Miloscia, Mulliken, DeBolt and Dunshee).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Water: 2/28/02, 3/1/02 [DPA].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & WATER
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Eide, Hale, Honeyford, Jacobsen, Keiser, McDonald and Morton.
Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)
Background: Districts providing water-sewer service must adopt a comprehensive plan for the type of facilities the district proposes to provide and may either combine all services into a single comprehensive general plan or prepare a separate general comprehensive plan for each of these services.
Prior to the plan becoming effective, the general comprehensive plan must be approved by any state agency whose approval may be required by applicable law. Also, amendments to, alterations of, or additions to the general comprehensive plan require the same approval process. This approval process applies to a city or town legislative authority only when an amendment, alteration, or addition to the general comprehensive plan affects the particular city or town.
Summary of Amended Bill: A sewer general comprehensive plan submitted by a city, town, public utility district, or water-sewer district for review by a state agency must either be approved, conditionally approved, rejected, or have amendments requested within 90 days after submission. This time line may be extended another 90 days if insufficient time exists to adequately review the plan. The governing body of any district submitting a plan may mutually agree with the agency reviewing the plan for an extension of the deadline.
The same timelines must be met by the Department of Health (DOH) when reviewing water system plans.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: Technical and clarifying changes are made. DOH reviews water system plans, not sewer plans. The sewer plan provisions are codified in a different chapter.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The Department of Health is supportive of goals of the bill, although it would be helpful to clarify the bill to ensure the 90-day requirement applies to the DOH's actions for all applicants. Some plans have taken up to two years. This would set a standard to ensure that approvals do not linger.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Rep. Miloscia, prime sponsor; Brian Peyton, DOH (pro); Joe Daniels, WA Assn. of Sewer and Water Districts (pro).