SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1663

BYHouse Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Nutley, Winsley, Leonard, Ballard, Anderson, Jacobsen, Locke, O'Brien, Prentice, Sayan, Wineberry, Ebersole, Brekke, Rust, Nelson and Rector)

Enacting the farmworker housing act.

House Committe on Housing

Rereferred House Committee on Revenue

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 28, 1989; March 31, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Barr, Chairman; Anderson, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Gaspard, Hansen, Madsen, Newhouse.

Senate Staff:John Stuhlmiller (786-7446)

                  March 31, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, MARCH 31, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Housing for farmworkers hired to harvest labor intensive crops has historically been provided by individual growers.  However, the amount of housing available to farmworkers has not kept up with the demand for housing.

The Department of Social and Health Services is responsible for the inspection of housing for agricultural workers.  The department assesses a fee on housing provided for farmworkers and their dependents to cover the cost of inspecting and certifying that facilities meet the state Board of Health regulations pertaining to labor camps.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Community Development is authorized to:  develop grant and loan programs to assist in the development or preservation of farmworker housing; develop model farmworker housing plans; and identify under-utilized state property which might be leased to providers of farmworker housing.  Also, the state's labor camp inspection program is increased.

The Department of Community Development is authorized to make grants or loans to meet three areas of need.

      (1)Grants may be made to local governing bodies and public and private nonprofit organizations to:  cover technical assistance and/or administrative costs to aid specific projects or to increase access to additional funding; or to assist in the operation of farmworker housing centers or farmworker housing.

      (2)Loans and/or grants may be made to local governing bodies and public and private nonprofit organizations for the construction, rehabilitation or acquisition and construction of farmworker housing.  Grants may not exceed 50 percent of the project costs or be used for project organization or planning costs, while loans may not exceed 80 percent of the project costs.

      (3)Loans may be made to growers for the rehabilitation of existing facilities.  Loan amounts may not exceed 80 percent of the project cost.

All loans and grants require that:  the housing be maintained for use by farmworkers for as long as a need exists; the housing be available for occupancy by all eligible farmworkers; the applicant's for grants meet the department's need criteria in requesting assistance; and the housing must be inspected, licensed, and comply with applicable regulations.

The department is authorized to develop and make available model plans and construction manuals for farmworker housing.

The department is required to work with the Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, and General Administration to identify and catalog under-utilized state property which might be leased to providers of farmworker housing.

The department shall also work with local governments and public and private nonprofit organizations to secure long term leases for the siting of seasonal or migrant farmworker housing.  Counties are specifically authorized to lease property for up to 75 years for this purpose.

A fee on each operating license issued by the Department of Social and Health Services is imposed on each labor camp, with all monies deposited into the farmworker housing inspection fund established by this act.  Fees are set at $50 for each camp containing six or less housing units, and $75 for camps containing more than six units.  Monies from this account, along with any appropriations, are to be used to administer the statewide labor camp inspection program.

The sum of $75,000 is appropriated to the Department of Community Development to assist in developing model plans and construction manuals for farmworker housing.

Appropriation:    $75,000 to Department of Community Development

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The definition of a farmworker housing center for grant and loan purposes is narrowed to include only facilities providing housing, child care and infant care.

Technical amendments are made to clarify the intent of several sections of the bill.

Senate Committee - Testified: Corine Foster, Department of Community Development (pro); Kurt Creager, Washington Coalition for Rural Housing (pro)