By Committee on Technology & Economic Development

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1.  RCW 43.157.005 and 2009 c 421 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature declares that certain private investments, such as investments for industrial development, environmental improvement, and innovation activities, merit special designation ((and treatment by governmental bodies when they are proposed)) as projects of statewide significance. Such investments bolster the economies of their locale and impact the economy of the state as a whole. It is the intention of the legislature to recognize projects of statewide significance, to provide a mechanism for local governments and state and federal agencies to perform a coordinated and comprehensive review of such projects, and to encourage ((local governments and state agencies to expedite)) their expeditious completion.

Sec. 2.  RCW 43.157.020 and 2009 c 421 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Counties and cities with development projects designated as projects of statewide significance within their jurisdictions ((shall)) must enter into an agreement with the office of regulatory assistance and the project managers of projects of statewide significance for: Expediting the completion of a project((s)) of statewide significance and completing a coordinated and comprehensive review of a project of statewide significance. The agreement ((shall)) must require:

(1) Expedited permit processing for the design and construction of the project;

(2) Expedited environmental review processing;

(3) Expedited processing of requests for street, right-of-way, ((or)) easement vacations, or other local administrative permits necessary for the construction of the project;

(4) Participation of local officials on the team assembled under the requirements of RCW 43.157.030(2)(b); and

(5) Such other actions or items as are deemed necessary by the office of regulatory assistance for the design and construction of the project but that do not alter any agency or local government permitting authority or other existing statutory requirements.

(b) For purposes of this section, "pre-SEPA process" means a process conducted prior to the environmental review process under the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW.

(2)(a) The task force comprises twelve voting members, with one member appointed by each of the chairs and ranking members of the house and senate transportation committees, the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over energy issues, the house committee with jurisdiction over environmental issues, and the senate committee with jurisdiction over economic development issues.

(b) The task force may consult with directors and representatives of state permitting agencies, including but not limited to the department of transportation, department of ecology, energy facility site evaluation council, and the department of fish and wildlife, and associations representing local governments.

(3) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.

(4) The task force must review previous legislative proposals addressing the goal of establishing a comprehensive, expedited permit decision-making process.

(5) By December 18, 2015, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, any findings and recommendations made by the task force must be reported to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature.

(6) This section expires July 1, 2016.

Correct the title.

EFFECT: Makes the following changes as compared to the underlying bill:

(1) Removes provisions that changed the criteria used by the Department of Commerce for designating a project of statewide significance;

(2) Removes the provision requiring cities and counties to enter into an agreement with the Office of Regulatory Assistance that addresses consolidated processing of permit requests; and

(3) Establishes a legislative task force to examine the creation of a single siting agency empowered to establish guidelines for and implement a pre-SEPA process that expedites and consolidates the permitting of large manufacturing facilities, energy facilities, and transportation facilities that are of statewide economic significance.