AN ACT Relating to contaminated properties; amending RCW 69.50.505 and 69.50.511; adding a new chapter to Title 64 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that some properties are being contaminated by dangerous chemicals used in unsafe or illegal ways, including the manufacture of illegal drugs. Innocent members of the public may be harmed by the residue left by these chemicals when the properties are subsequently rented or sold without having been decontaminated.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The words and phrases defined in this section shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) "Contaminated" or "contamination" means polluted by dangerous chemicals so that the property is unfit for human habitation or use due to immediate or long-term hazards. Property that at one time was contaminated but has been satisfactorily decontaminated according to procedures established by the state board of health is not "contaminated."

(2) "Dangerous chemicals" means any substance that is an immediate or long-term hazard to human health that is not normally found at residences, especially chemicals and precursors used to manufacture illegal drugs.

(3) "Officer" means a local health officer authorized under chapters 70.05, 70.08, and 70.46 RCW.

(4) "Property" means any property, site, structure, or part of a structure which is involved in the unauthorized manufacture or storage of dangerous chemicals. This includes but is not limited to single-family residences, units of multiplexes, condominiums, apartment buildings, boats, motor vehicles, trailers, manufactured housing, or any shop, booth, or garden.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Whenever a law enforcement agency becomes aware that property has been contaminated by dangerous or hazardous chemicals or substances, that agency shall report the contamination to the local health officer. The local health officer shall cause a posting of a notice on the premises immediately upon being notified of the contamination and shall cause an inspection to be done on the property within fourteen days after receiving the notice of contamination. If a property owner believes that a tenant has contaminated property that was being leased or rented, and the property is vacated or abandoned, then the property owner shall contact the local health officer about the possible contamination. Local health officers or boards may charge reasonable fees for inspections of property requested by property owners.

If property is determined to be contaminated, then the local health officer shall cause a posting of a notice on the premises. A local health officer may enter, inspect, and survey at reasonable times any properties for which there are reasonable grounds to believe that the property has become contaminated.

Local health officers must report all cases of contaminated property to the state department of health. The department may make the list of contaminated properties available to health associations, landlord and realtor organizations, prosecutors, and other interested groups.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If after the inspection of the property, the local health officer finds that it is contaminated, then the property shall be found unfit for use. The local health officer shall cause to be served either personally or by certified mail, with return receipt requested, upon all occupants and persons having any interest therein as shown upon the records of the auditor's office of the county in which such property is located, and shall post in a conspicuous place on the property, an order prohibiting use. If the whereabouts of such persons is unknown and the same cannot be ascertained by the local health officer in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and the health officer makes an affidavit to that effect, then the serving of the order upon such persons may be made either by personal service or by mailing a copy of the order by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to each person at the address appearing on the last equalized tax assessment roll of the county where the property is located or at the address known to the county assessor, and the order shall be posted conspicuously at the residence. A copy of the order shall also be mailed, addressed to each person or party having a recorded right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the property. Such order shall contain a notice that a hearing before the local health board or officer shall be held upon the request of a person required to be notified of the order under this section. The request for a hearing must be made within ten days of serving the order. The hearing shall then be held within not less than twenty days nor more than thirty days after the serving of the order. The officer shall prohibit use as long as the property is found to be contaminated. A copy of the order shall also be filed with the auditor of the county in which the property is located, and such filing of the complaint or order shall have the same force and effect as other lis pendens notices provided by law. In any hearing concerning whether property is fit for use, the property owner has the burden of showing that the property is decontaminated or fit for use. The owner or any person having an interest in the property may file an appeal on any order issued by the local health board or officer within thirty days from the date of service of the order with the appeals commission established pursuant to RCW 35.80.030. All proceedings before the appeals commission, including any subsequent appeals to superior court, shall be governed by the procedures established in chapter 35.80 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The city or county in which the contaminated property is located may take action to condemn or demolish property or to require the property be vacated or the contents removed from the property. The city or county must use a contractor certified by the state department of health if property is demolished or removed under this section. No city or county may condemn or demolish property pursuant to this section until all procedures granting the right of notice and the opportunity to appeal in section 4 of this act have been exhausted.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. An owner of contaminated property who desires to have the property decontaminated must use the services of a contractor certified by the department of health to decontaminate the property. The contractor shall prepare and submit a written work plan for decontamination to the local health officer. If the work plan is approved and the decontamination is completed and the property is retested according to the plan and properly documented, then the health officer shall allow reuse of the property. A notice shall be recorded in the real property records if applicable, indicating the property has been decontaminated in accordance with rules of the state department of health.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) After January 1, 1991, a person may not perform decontamination work unless issued a certificate by the state department of health. The department shall establish performance standards for contractors by rule in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act. The department shall train and test, or may approve courses to train and test, contractors and their employees on the essential elements in assessing property used as an illegal drug manufacturing or storage site to determine hazard reduction measures needed, techniques for adequately reducing contaminants, use of personal protective equipment, and relevant federal and state regulations. Upon successful completion of the training, the contractor or employee shall be certified.

(2) The department may require the successful completion of annual refresher courses provided or approved by the department for the continued certification of the contractor or employee.

(3) The department shall provide for reciprocal certification of any individual trained to engage in decontamination work in another state when the prior training is shown to be substantially similar to the training required by the department. The department may require such individuals to take an examination or refresher course before certification.

(4) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a certificate for failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter. A certificate may be denied, suspended, or revoked on any of the following grounds:

(a) Failing to perform decontamination work under the supervision of trained personnel;

(b) Failing to file a work plan;

(d) Failing to perform work that meets the requirements of the department; or

(e) The certificate was obtained by error, misrepresentation, or fraud.

(5) A person who violates any provision of this chapter may be assessed a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars for each violation.

(6) The department of health shall prescribe fees for the issuance and renewal of certificates, the administration of examinations, and for the review of training courses.

(7) The decontamination account is hereby established in the state treasury. All fees collected under this chapter shall be deposited in this account. Moneys in the account may only be spent after appropriation for costs incurred by the department in the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Until January 1, 1991, a property owner who wishes to have property decontaminated in accordance with the provisions of this act, shall contact the state department of health to receive a list of environmental service contractors who perform decontamination work. The property owner may choose any contractor on the list to perform the necessary work.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The state board of health shall promulgate rules and standards for carrying out the provisions in this chapter in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act. The local board of health and the local health officer are authorized to exercise such powers as may be necessary to carry out this chapter. The department shall provide technical assistance to local health boards and health officers to carry out their duties under sections 1 through 11 of this act. The department shall develop guidelines for decontamination of a property used as a drug laboratory and methods for the testing of ground water, surface water, soil, and septic tanks for contamination.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Members of the state board of health and local boards of health, local health officers, and employees of the department of health and local health departments are immune from civil liability arising out of the performance of their duties under this chapter, unless such performance constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This chapter shall not limit state or local government authority to act under any other statute, including chapter 35.80 or 7.48 RCW.

Sec. 12. Section 15, chapter 2, Laws of 1983 as last amended by section 212, chapter 271, Laws of 1989 and RCW 69.50.505 are each amended to read as follows:

(a) The following are subject to seizure and forfeiture and no property right exists in them:

(1) All controlled substances which have been manufactured, distributed, dispensed, acquired, or possessed in violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW, and all hazardous substances used or intended to be used in the manufacture of controlled substances;

(2) All raw materials, products, and equipment of any kind which are used, or intended for use, in manufacturing, compounding, processing, delivering, importing, or exporting any controlled substance in violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW;

(3) All property which is used, or intended for use, as a container for property described in paragraphs (1) or (2);

(4) All conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles, or vessels, which are used, or intended for use, in any manner to facilitate the sale of property described in paragraphs (1) or (2), except that:

(i) No conveyance used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier is subject to forfeiture under this section unless it appears that the owner or other person in charge of the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW;

(ii) No conveyance is subject to forfeiture under this section by reason of any act or omission established by the owner thereof to have been committed or omitted without the owner's knowledge or consent;

(iii) A forfeiture of a conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject to the interest of the secured party if the secured party neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission; and

(iv) When the owner of a conveyance has been arrested under this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW the conveyance in which the person is arrested may not be subject to forfeiture unless it is seized or process is issued for its seizure within ten days of the owner's arrest;

(5) All books, records, and research products and materials, including formulas, microfilm, tapes, and data which are used, or intended for use, in violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW;

(6) All drug paraphernalia;

(7) All moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, or other tangible or intangible property of value furnished or intended to be furnished by any person in exchange for a controlled substance in violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW, all tangible or intangible personal property, proceeds, or assets acquired in whole or in part with proceeds traceable to an exchange or series of exchanges in violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW, and all moneys, negotiable instruments, and securities used or intended to be used to facilitate any violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW: PROVIDED, That a forfeiture of money, negotiable instruments, securities, or other tangible or intangible property encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject to the interest of the secured party if, at the time the security interest was created, the secured party neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no personal property may be forfeited under this paragraph, to the extent of the interest of an owner, by reason of any act or omission which that owner establishes was committed or omitted without the owner's knowledge or consent; and

(8) All real property, including any right, title, and interest in the whole of any lot or tract of land, and any appurtenances or improvements which are being used with the knowledge of the owner for the manufacturing, compounding, processing, delivery, importing, or exporting of any controlled substance, or which have been acquired in whole or in part with proceeds traceable to an exchange or series of exchanges in violation of this chapter or chapter 69.41 or 69.52 RCW, if such activity is not less than a class C felony and a substantial nexus exists between the commercial production or sale of the controlled substance and the real property: PROVIDED, That:

(i) No property may be forfeited pursuant to this subsection, to the extent of the interest of an owner, by reason of any act or omission committed or omitted without the owner's knowledge or consent;

(ii) The bona fide gift of a controlled substance, legend drug, or imitation controlled substance shall not result in the forfeiture of real property;

(iii) The possession of marijuana shall not result in the forfeiture of real property unless the marijuana is possessed for commercial purposes, the amount possessed is five or more plants or one pound or more of marijuana, and a substantial nexus exists between the possession of marijuana and the real property. In such a case, the intent of the offender shall be determined by the preponderance of the evidence, including the offender's prior criminal history, the amount of marijuana possessed by the offender, the sophistication of the activity or equipment used by the offender, and other evidence which demonstrates the offender's intent to engage in commercial activity;

(iv) The unlawful sale of marijuana or a legend drug shall not result in the forfeiture of real property unless the sale was forty grams or more in the case of marijuana or one hundred dollars or more in the case of a legend drug, and a substantial nexus exists between the unlawful sale and the real property; and

(v) A forfeiture of real property encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject to the interest of the secured party if the secured party, at the time the security interest was created, neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission.

(b) Real or personal property subject to forfeiture under this chapter may be seized by any board inspector or law enforcement officer of this state upon process issued by any superior court having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure of real property shall include the filing of a lis pendens by the seizing agency. Real property seized under this section shall not be transferred or otherwise conveyed until ninety days after seizure or until a judgment of forfeiture is entered, whichever is later: PROVIDED, That real property seized under this section may be transferred or conveyed to any person or entity who acquires title by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure of a security interest. Seizure of personal property without process may be made if:

(1) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search warrant or an inspection under an administrative inspection warrant;

(2) The property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state in a criminal injunction or forfeiture proceeding based upon this chapter;

(3) A board inspector or law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the property is directly or indirectly dangerous to health or safety; or

(4) The board inspector or law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the property was used or is intended to be used in violation of this chapter.

(c) In the event of seizure pursuant to subsection (b), proceedings for forfeiture shall be deemed commenced by the seizure. The law enforcement agency under whose authority the seizure was made shall cause notice to be served within fifteen days following the seizure on the owner of the property seized and the person in charge thereof and any person having any known right or interest therein, including any community property interest, of the seizure and intended forfeiture of the seized property. Service of notice of seizure of real property shall be made according to the rules of civil procedure. However, the state may not obtain a default judgment with respect to real property against a party who is served by substituted service absent an affidavit stating that a good faith effort has been made to ascertain if the defaulted party is incarcerated within the state, and that there is no present basis to believe that the party is incarcerated within the state. The notice of seizure in other cases may be served by any method authorized by law or court rule including but not limited to service by certified mail with return receipt requested. Service by mail shall be deemed complete upon mailing within the fifteen day period following the seizure.

(d) If no person notifies the seizing law enforcement agency in writing of the person's claim of ownership or right to possession of items specified in subsection (a)(4), (a)(7), or (a)(8) of this section within forty-five days of the seizure in the case of personal property and ninety days in the case of real property, the item seized shall be deemed forfeited. The community property interest in real property of a person whose spouse committed a violation giving rise to seizure of the real property may not be forfeited if the person did not participate in the violation.

(e) If any person notifies the seizing law enforcement agency in writing of the person's claim of ownership or right to possession of items specified in subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(6), (a)(7), or (a)(8) of this section within forty-five days of the seizure in the case of personal property and ninety days in the case of real property, the person or persons shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right. The hearing shall be before the chief law enforcement officer of the seizing agency or the chief law enforcement officer's designee, except where the seizing agency is a state agency as defined in RCW 34.12.020(4), the hearing shall be before the chief law enforcement officer of the seizing agency or an administrative law judge appointed under chapter 34.12 RCW, except that any person asserting a claim or right may remove the matter to a court of competent jurisdiction if the aggregate value of the article or articles involved is more than five hundred dollars. The court to which the matter is to be removed shall be the district court when such aggregate value is ten thousand dollars or less of personal property. A hearing before the seizing agency and any appeal therefrom shall be under Title 34 RCW. In a court hearing between two or more claimants to the article or articles involved, the prevailing party shall be entitled to a judgment for costs and reasonable attorney's fees. In cases involving personal property, the burden of producing evidence shall be upon the person claiming to be the lawful owner or the person claiming to have the lawful right to possession of the property. In cases involving real property, the burden of producing evidence shall be upon the law enforcement agency. The burden of proof that the seized real property is subject to forfeiture shall be upon the law enforcement agency. The seizing law enforcement agency shall promptly return the article or articles to the claimant upon a determination by the administrative law judge or court that the claimant is the present lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession thereof of items specified in subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(6), (a)(7), or (a)(8) of this section.

(f) When property is forfeited under this chapter the board or seizing law enforcement agency may:

(1) Retain it for official use or upon application by any law enforcement agency of this state release such property to such agency for the exclusive use of enforcing the provisions of this chapter;

(2) (i) Sell that which is not required to be destroyed by law and which is not harmful to the public. The proceeds and all moneys forfeited under this title shall be used for payment of all proper expenses of the investigation leading to the seizure, including any money delivered to the subject of the investigation by the law enforcement agency, and of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising, actual costs of the prosecuting or city attorney, and court costs. Money remaining after the payment of all expenses shall be distributed as follows:

(A) Twenty-five percent of the money derived from the forfeiture of real property and seventy-five percent of the money derived from the forfeiture of personal property shall be deposited in the general fund of the state, county, and/or city of the seizing law enforcement agency and shall be used exclusively for the expansion or improvement of law enforcement services. These services may include the creation of reward funds for the purpose of rewarding informants who supply information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of persons who violate laws relating to controlled substances. Such moneys shall not supplant preexisting funding sources;

(B) Twenty-five percent of money derived from the forfeiture of real property and twenty-five percent of money derived from the forfeiture of personal property shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the public safety and education account established in RCW 43.08.250;

(C) Until July 1, 1995, fifty percent of money derived from the forfeiture of real property shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the drug enforcement and education account under RCW 69.50.520, on and after July 1, 1995, the fifty percent of the money shall be remitted in the same manner as the twenty-five percent of the money remitted under (2)(i)(A) of this subsection; and

(D) If an investigation involves a seizure of moneys and proceeds having an aggregate value of less than five thousand dollars, the moneys and proceeds may be deposited in total in the general fund of the governmental unit of the seizing law enforcement agency and shall be appropriated exclusively for the expansion of narcotics enforcement services. Such moneys shall not supplant preexisting funding sources.

(ii) Money deposited according to this section must be deposited within ninety days of the date of final disposition of either the administrative seizure or the judicial seizure;

(3) Request the appropriate sheriff or director of public safety to take custody of the property and remove it for disposition in accordance with law; or

(4) Forward it to the drug enforcement administration for disposition.

(g) Controlled substances listed in Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V that are possessed, transferred, sold, or offered for sale in violation of this chapter are contraband and shall be seized and summarily forfeited to the state. Controlled substances listed in Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V, which are seized or come into the possession of the board, the owners of which are unknown, are contraband and shall be summarily forfeited to the board.

(h) Species of plants from which controlled substances in Schedules I and II may be derived which have been planted or cultivated in violation of this chapter, or of which the owners or cultivators are unknown, or which are wild growths, may be seized and summarily forfeited to the board.

(i) The failure, upon demand by a board inspector or law enforcement officer, of the person in occupancy or in control of land or premises upon which the species of plants are growing or being stored to produce an appropriate registration or proof that he is the holder thereof constitutes authority for the seizure and forfeiture of the plants.

(j) Upon the entry of an order of forfeiture of real property, the court shall forward a copy of the order to the assessor of the county in which the property is located. Orders for the forfeiture of real property shall be entered by the superior court, subject to court rules. Such an order shall be filed by the seizing agency in the county auditor's records in the county in which the real property is located.

Sec. 13. Section 228, chapter 271, Laws of 1989 and RCW 69.50.511 are each amended to read as follows:

Law enforcement agencies who during the official investigation or enforcement of any illegal drug manufacturing facility come in contact with or are aware of any substances suspected of being hazardous as defined in RCW 70.105D.020(5), shall notify the department of ecology for the purpose of securing a contractor to identify, clean-up, store, and dispose of suspected hazardous substances, except for those random and representative samples obtained for evidentiary purposes. Whenever possible, a destruct order covering hazardous substances which may be described in general terms shall be obtained concurrently with a search warrant. Materials that have been photographed, fingerprinted, and subsampled by police shall be destroyed as soon as practical. The department of ecology shall make every effort to recover costs from the parties responsible for the suspected hazardous substance. All recoveries shall be deposited in the account or fund from which contractor payments are made.

The department of ecology may adopt rules to carry out its responsibilities under this section. The department of ecology shall consult with law enforcement agencies prior to adopting any rule or policy relating to this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. Sections 1 through 7 and 9 through 11 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 64 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. Section 12 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.