Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

 ANALYSIS

Local Government Committee

 

 

HB 2805

Brief Description: Creating a blue ribbon commission on land use and local government finance.

 

Sponsors: Representatives Romero, McIntire, Haigh, Dunshee, Moeller, Clibborn and Morrell.


Brief Summary of Bill

    Creates a blue ribbon commission on land use and local government finance to understand and make recommendations on the impact that current trends in city and county revenue sources and expenditures may have on land use decisions made by counties and cities and meeting goals of the Growth Management Act.


Hearing Date: 2/2/04


Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7109).


Background:


Local governments have authority to raise revenue and make expenditures.


Local governments in Washington have land use planning authority.


Summary of Bill:


Creates a blue ribbon commission (commission) on land use and local government finance to understand and make recommendations on the impact that current trends in city and county revenue sources and expenditures may have on land-use decisions made by counties and cities and meeting goals of the Growth Management Act.


Provides that the commission begin work in June 2004 and complete its work by June 2006, submitting a report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 2005.


Specifies the qualifications for the commission's 13 members: four legislative members (one from each major caucus), seven appointed by the governor (one at large member and one each with expertise in the following areas: city finance, county finance, city land use, county land use, environmental land use, and intergovernmental finance), and two ex officio non-voting members (Director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) and Director of the Department of Revenue (DOR) or their designees).


Requires the commission to consider specific matters and to make recommendations.


Requires staffing to be provided by the CTED and the DOR, with additional staff to be provided by other state agencies and the legislature, as required.


Provides for travel expenses for members of the commission.


Includes legislative findings.


Expires June 30, 2006.


Includes an emergency clause.


Appropriation: None.


Fiscal Note: Requested on January 28, 2004.


Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.