Brief Description: Including access to family planning services in growth management planning.

Sponsors: Representative Chase.

Hearing Date: 3/17/05

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

Enacted in 1990 and 1991, the Growth Management Act (GMA) establishes a comprehensive land use planning framework for county and city governments in Washington. The GMA specifies numerous provisions for jurisdictions fully planning under the Act (planning jurisdictions) and establishes a reduced number of compliance requirements for all local governments.

Planning jurisdictions must adopt internally consistent comprehensive land use plans (comprehensive plans), which are generalized, coordinated land use policy statements of the governing body. Planning jurisdictions also must adopt development regulations that are consistent with and implement the comprehensive plan.

The adopted comprehensive plans and the corresponding development regulations must be consistent with planning goals established in the GMA. The planning goals, which are listed in a non-prioritized order, must be used for the purpose of guiding the development of comprehensive plans and development regulations. The goals include provisions for encouraging development in urban areas, encouraging the availability of affordable housing, retaining open space, and protecting the environment.

Summary of Bill:

A new planning goal is added to the Growth Management Act (GMA), as follows:

• Accessible family planning - ensure that all who choose to use reproductive health care services have access to these services.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 14, 2005.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.