BILL REQ. #:  H-0164.1 

Read first time 01/21/11.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a land use planning for jobs legislative task force; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The growth management act requires local governments to adopt comprehensive plans and development regulations that balance the fourteen goals underpinning the act. Among these goals are requirements that applications for both state and local government permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability. The goals also specify that adopted plans should encourage economic development throughout the state by promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses and by recruiting new businesses.
     These vital goals have not been equally and sufficiently provided for, in part, because of conflicting, duplicative, and bureaucratic permit requirements under the growth management act, the shoreline management act, and the state environmental policy act.
     The legislature finds there is a need to identify the duplicative, conflicting, and unduly burdensome elements of the permitting processes required by these three acts. The legislature also finds that there is a need to make recommendations to eliminate these duplications, conflicts, and burdensome elements for the purposes of streamlining permitting processes and fostering economic development and new jobs in the state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1)(a) The "land use planning for jobs legislative task force" is established, with voting members appointed as provided in this subsection.
     (i) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.
     (ii) The president of the senate shall appoint one voting member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.
     (iii) The legislative leaders of the two largest political parties in each house of the legislature shall jointly appoint the following voting members:
     (A) Two members representing local governments with fewer than fifty thousand residents and two members representing local governments with fifty thousand or more residents. From among these four members, there shall be representation from the following regions of Washington state: Northeast; northwest; southeast; and southwest;
     (B) One member from and representing the planning community;
     (C) One member from and representing the business community;
     (D) One member from and representing the building industry;
     (E) One member from and representing the agricultural community; and
     (F) One member from and representing the environmental community.
     (b) The directors of the departments of ecology and commerce may each appoint one nonvoting representative to participate in the task force.
     (c) The task force's cochairs shall be the senator affiliated with the democratic caucus and the representative affiliated with the republican caucus. The representative affiliated with the republican caucus shall convene the initial meeting of the task force by August 15, 2011.
     (2) The task force shall identify duplicative, conflicting, and unduly burdensome aspects of land use and development regulations required by laws and regulations enacted pursuant to the growth management act, chapter 36.70A RCW, the shoreline management act, chapter 90.58 RCW, and the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW. The task force shall also make recommendations to assist state and local authorities in streamlining the permitting requirements of the three acts into one uniform process that ensures that communities preserve public safety and have the necessary infrastructure for economic development that is free from inappropriately burdensome requirements.
     (3)(a) The task force shall, at a minimum, review and make findings and recommendations regarding:
     (i) A uniform permit application process to simultaneously address all environmental issues under the shoreline management act, critical areas ordinances adopted under the growth management act, and the state environmental policy act, eliminating any conflicts or duplicative requirements;
     (ii) Other measures that would help local authorities address concerns raised by citizens desiring to build infrastructure that creates sustainable and long-term economic opportunities for communities; and
     (iii) Other matters identified by a consensus of the voting members of the task force.
     (b) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and senate by July 15, 2012.
     (c) Findings and recommendations of the task force must be determined by consensus of the voting members of the task force. A draft version of the findings and recommendations shall be made available to the public prior to being submitted to the governor and the legislature, and the task force shall accept public testimony regarding its draft findings and recommendations.
     (4) Task force meetings shall be open to the public. The task force must, subject to expenditure approvals required in subsection (7) of this section, provide opportunities for members and the public to listen to the proceedings telephonically or through other available technologies.
     (5) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.
     (6) Legislative members of the task force must be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not eligible for travel reimbursements unless funding for those reimbursements, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is provided by June 30, 2011, in the omnibus appropriations act.
     (7) The expenses of the task force must be paid jointly by the house of representatives and the senate. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the house of representatives executive rules committee and the senate facilities and operations committee, or their successor committees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act may be known and cited as the planning for jobs act of 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Sections 1 through 3 of this act expire December 31, 2012.