SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2811

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Land Use & Planning, February 26, 2004

Title: An act relating to establishing permit processing timelines and reporting requirements for certain local governments subject to the requirements of RCW 36.70A.215.

Brief Description: Establishing permit processing timelines and reporting requirements for certain local governments subject to the requirements of RCW 36.70A.215.

Sponsors: Representatives Jarrett, Upthegrove, Priest, Romero, Shabro, Moeller, Clibborn, Linville, Edwards, Tom, Sullivan and Woods.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Land Use & Planning: 2/23/04, 2/26/04 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE & PLANNING

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Mulliken, Chair; Kline, Morton, Murray and T. Sheldon.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: Jurisdictions that plan under the state's Growth Management Act (GMA) are required to establish time periods for taking action on project permit applications and to have timely and predictable procedures for evaluating the applications. In addition, until September 1, 2003, the jurisdictions that also conduct a review and evaluation program, the "buildable lands" jurisdictions, were required to prepare at least two annual performance reports and, until July 1, 2003, to post notice of the reports on their websites.

Summary of Bill: The Legislature declares its intent to reinstate permitting performance reports by certain jurisdictions, in order to foster improved permitting methods and timely permit decisions.

Existing requirements to establish time periods for taking action on project permit applications and to have timely and predictable procedures for evaluating the applications are amended to emphasize implementation of the established time periods and to clarify that the time periods are established according to types of permits.

The "buildable lands" jurisdictions are also required to identify the number, as well as the types of permits they process. Their performance reporting requirement is reinstated and reduced to an annual basis. Inclusion of mean processing time and number standard deviation from the mean is added. The actual reports must be available on the jurisdiction's website, not just a notice of their availability.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: Before they lapsed, the reporting requirements were revealing that some jurisdictions were supplying good data and performing well, while others were not – data was not made available, not always of good quality, and not susceptible to comparison. Reporting needs to continue, so that jurisdictions will be able to see what others are able to accomplish; it provides accountability along with information that leads to improvements. Continued reporting will help applicants know how long things actually take.

Testimony Against: Although the objectives are good, this imposes an unfunded mandate and fails to include state agencies.

Testified: Representative Jarrett, prime sponsor (pro); Doug Levy, City of Federal Way and Everett (con); Bryan Wahl, Realtors (pro).