HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1229

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to state government compliance with growth management.

Brief Description:  Making state agencies subject to growth management rules and impact fees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, H. Myers, Riley, R. Fisher, Brumsickle, Wolfe, Chappell, Holm, Grant, Dunshee, Sheldon, Johanson, Springer and Orr.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, March 1, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Bray, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dunshee; R. Fisher; Horn; Rayburn; Romero; Springer; Van Luven; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  The Growth Management Act was enacted in 1990 and 1991.

Among other requirements, certain counties and the cities and towns within those counties are required to adopt comprehensive plans including a variety of matters and development regulations implementing the comprehensive plans.

State agencies are required to comply with the comprehensive plans and development regulations adopted under the Growth Management Act.  No definition is provided for the term "state agencies."

Counties, cities, and towns that plan under all the requirements of the Growth Management Act may impose impact fees on development activities to pay the proportionate share of certain public facilities that are needed to serve the development.  This law does not provide expressly whether state agencies are potentially subject to impact fees.

Summary of Bill:  For purposes of the requirement that state agencies comply with comprehensive plans and development regulations adopted under the Growth Management Act, the term "state agency" is defined to include the state government and every division or portion of state government, including institutions of higher education.

State agencies are subject to impact fees under the Growth Management Act, to the same extent as a private entity is subject to impact fees.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 3, 1993.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This clarifies the law.  If private entities are subject, so should the state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (pro):  Leanore Baxendale, 1000 Friends of Washington; Bruce Wishart, Sierra Club; Jeff Parsons, National Audubon Society; Doug DeForest, Olympia Master Builders; Bernie Main, city of Olympia; Jack Sage, AARP; Doug Baker, city of Tumwater; and Paul Parker, Washington State Association of Counties.