BILL REQ. #:  S-3761.1 

Read first time 01/15/2004.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.

     WHEREAS, The complexity of federal, state, and local permitting processes present coordinating challenges to regulators, project sponsors, and interested stakeholders; and
     WHEREAS, A more simple, coordinated, and efficient permit system could promote economic development, support state and local land use requirements, and provide environmental protections; and
     WHEREAS, A comprehensive review of permitting processes by a diverse group of stakeholders that includes each major caucus in the legislature and the governor is necessary to make recommendations for changes;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select legislative task force, assisted by an advisory committee, be established to evaluate and make recommendations regarding permitting processes; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select legislative task force be composed of the chair and ranking minority member of the senate land use and planning committee and the chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives local government committee; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the task force gather information regarding streamlining permitting processes and other factors that the task force considers appropriate; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an advisory committee be established to provide assistance upon request of the joint select legislative task force; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the advisory committee shall be composed of the following members or their designees: The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development; the director of the department of ecology; the secretary of the department of transportation; the director of the department of fish and wildlife; a representative of a county, selected by the Washington association of counties; a representative of a city, selected by the Washington association of cities; the governor's office; a representative from the business community; a representative from the environmental community; a representative from agriculture; a representative from labor; and a representative from federally recognized Indian tribes; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the advisory committee shall select a chair or cochairs from among its members for the purpose of conducting meetings and transmitting information from the advisory committee as a group to the joint select legislative task force; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in developing its recommendations, the joint select legislative task force shall consult with the advisory committee; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That staff support for the joint select legislative task force and the advisory committee shall be provided by senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select legislative task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees by January 1, 2005.