HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1819

As Passed House:

March 8, 2013

Title: An act relating to creating and using digital infrastructure maps to inform economic development decisions.

Brief Description: Creating and using digital infrastructure maps to inform economic development decisions.

Sponsors: House Committee on Technology & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Tarleton, Habib, Maxwell, Orwall, Morris, Farrell, Sells, Fitzgibbon and Tharinger).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Technology & Economic Development: 2/19/13, 2/20/13 [DPS];

Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government: 2/25/13 [DPS(TED)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/8/13, 72-25.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Morris, Chair; Habib, Vice Chair; Smith, Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hudgins, Kochmar, Maxwell, Morrell, Stonier, Tarleton, Walsh, Wylie and Zeiger.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Dahlquist, Magendanz and Vick.

Staff: Jennifer Thornton (786-7147).

Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Technology & Economic Development be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Hudgins, Chair; Dunshee, Hunt, Pedersen and Springer.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Parker, Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Chandler and Taylor.

Staff: Wendy Polzin (786-7137).

Background:

Department of Commerce.

The Washington State Department of Commerce (Department) was created in 2009 as a successor agency to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development. The Department is a medium-sized, cabinet-level state agency with the mission to grow and improve jobs in Washington. The Department's work is organized around the eight priorities of competitiveness, education and workforce training, efficient and effective regulation, infrastructure investment, community capacity, rural focus, sector focus, and small business.

A variety of programs and functions including the State Energy Office and the Broadband Office are administered by the Department. The Department also provides administrative support for the Community Economic Revitalization Board.

Department of Transportation.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was created in 1977 to consolidate the functions of six separate agencies. The WSDOT is responsible for administering the statewide transportation system and ensuring that people and goods move safely and efficiently across the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, the WSDOT is responsible for the state ferry system, and works in partnership with others to maintain and improve local roads, railroads, airports, and multimodal alternatives to driving. The WSDOT works towards achieving the goals of safety, preservation, mobility, environmental quality, system stewardship, and economic vitality.

National Pipeline Mapping System

The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) is a geographic information system created by the United States Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety in cooperation with other federal and state governmental agencies and the pipeline industry. Due to national security concerns pertaining to United States pipeline infrastructure, access to the NPMS has been restricted. The NPMS Public Map Viewer allows the general public to view maps containing certain information on a limited scale, in accordance with the PHMSA's security policy. This limited scale prevents the general public from viewing a map at closer than a 1:24,000 scale (approximately 0.2 miles on the scale bar).

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The Legislature finds that:

• significant public and private infrastructure investments are made for the purposes of energy, information networks, water, sewer, and transportation, which are critical to contributing towards the nation's security interests, to achieving long-term global competitiveness, and to creating equal access to economic opportunity; and

• access to a broader array of information would enable the state to make more informed investment decisions.

The Legislature intends to direct the creation and use of available maps and available data for the creation and use of digital cross-system infrastructure maps to inform and develop state economic development priorities and make investment decisions that support state and national interests.

Using specified systems and standards, the State Energy Office and the Broadband Office of the Department, the Public Works Board and the Community Economic Revitalization Board, in collaboration with the WSDOT and Department of Natural Resources, are directed to develop digital layered maps that identify:

• major power facilities and energy infrastructure sites;

• broadband availability;

• water and sewer infrastructure; and

• rail corridors, public highways, and ports.

When creating the maps, commercially available software, and available maps, available data and existing standards and services should be used. No geographic coordinates of facilities may be identified on the maps, and the map scale may not allow displays closer than 1:24,000. Information exempt from disclosure under the security section of the Public Records Act, may also not be included on the maps.

The Department and the WSDOT are directed to analyze the maps to identify gaps in infrastructure corresponding with economic corridors and priority areas for future investment, and jointly report the infrastructure gaps and investment recommendations to the Legislature by January 1 of each year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Technology & Economic Development):

(In support) The comments and input from the Department and Office of the Chief Information Officer were very helpful in articulating the specific ingredients for the proposed legislation. Members get many briefings about critical infrastructure, but it is really hard to visualize a network without seeing it on a map. This will provide information, allow gaps to be identified, and inform decisions.

(Other) This is an important bill related to digital infrastructure mapping. It is important to recognize the significant potential of the data that is available. This bill highlights important tools of the state. The work the agencies have done developing standards and resources should be applied as appropriate. The broadband office has been successful mapping broadband networks around the state, and has strong partnerships with a number of agencies. State government has increased its maturity and sophistication for mapping, and developed a collaborative and professional community. Some of government's best and most valuable assets are information, and the value comes from making it available.

(With concerns) Representatives from the Public Utility Districts have concerns that much information is already out there, and this bill should not create a new level of obligation. There is existing information, and it would be helpful to clarify that in the bill's language.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government):

(In support) The principle users of this data will be elected officials and decision makers. This legislation will provide critical information on technology and energy infrastructure in the state.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (Technology & Economic Development): (In support) Representative Tarleton, prime sponsor.

(Other) Jill Satran, Office of the Chief Information Officer; and Wilford Saunders, Department of Commerce.

(With concerns) Trent House, Washington Public Utilities Districts Association.

Persons Testifying (Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government): Representative Tarleton, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Technology & Economic Development): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government): None.