Title: An act relating to requiring a review of land use permitting processes.

Brief Description: Reviewing state and local permitting processes.

Sponsors: Senators Berkey and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/1/05 [DP-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: 2004 SSCR 8418 created the Joint Select Legislative Task Force on Permitting Processes. The preliminary work of the task force identified areas of concern that were shared by stakeholders, public interest organizations, local governments, and state agencies. These areas of concern included the role of state and federal requirements in local land use permitting in respect to redundancy, uncertainty, and delay.

Summary of Bill: The joint legislative audit and review committee (JLARC) is directed to review how state and federal requirements and processes affect local land use permitting in respect to redundancy, uncertainty, and delay.

JLARC is authorized to use a representative sample of jurisdictions and any existing material on the subject. JLARC must report by January 1, 2006 and include in its report the ways in which redundancy, uncertainty, and delay are being and could be eliminated..

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: The preliminary work of the joint task force and its advisory committee needs to move forward. Permitting is the most frequent complaint that a legislator hears. This review will focus on an issue identified by the advisory committee, which is how state and federal requirements create redundancy, uncertainty, and delay in local land use permitting.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Berkey, prime sponsor; Genesee Adkins, Futurewise.