FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5761

C 54 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Modifying requirements for industrial projects of statewide significance.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators T. Sheldon and Shin).

Senate Committee on Economic Development

House Committee on Trade & Economic Development

Background: In 1997, the Legislature created a process to expedite the development of industrial projects of statewide significance. Industrial investments of statewide significance are defined as either a border crossing project that involves both private and public investments or a private capital investment in manufacturing or research and development. The capital investment threshold is dependent on the size of the population in a county. The capital investment requirements range from $20 million for a project located in a county with a population of 20,000 or less, to $1 billion for a project located in a county with a population greater than one million. The Director of the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) may designate a project as one of statewide significance in special circumstances.

Counties and cities may include in their written plans a process to expedite the review, approval, permitting, and completion of projects of statewide significance.

CTED must assign an ombudsman to each project of statewide significance to assemble a team of state, local government, and private officials to help meet the project's planning and development needs.

In 2001, the Legislature created the Office of Permit Assistance in the Office of Financial Management to provide information, facilitation, and coordination services to help streamline the permitting process.

Summary: The definition of industrial projects of statewide significance is expanded to include projects with projected employment positions of 50 or greater in rural counties and 100 or greater in urban counties. An application for designation as an industrial project of statewide significance must be submitted to CTED. The application includes a letter of approval from jurisdictions where a project is located.

Counties and cities with projects are to enter into agreements with the Office of Permit Assistance and project managers of industrial projects of statewide significance to expedite the processes necessary for the design and construction of projects.

The Office of Permit Assistance is to provide facilitation and coordination services to industrial projects of statewide significance.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       96  0

Effective: July 27, 2003