H-3419.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2628

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives R. Fisher, Campbell, Edmondson, Sommers, Appelwick and Dorn

Read first time 01/19/94.  Referred to Committee on Local Government.

Revising provisions relating to condemnation of blighted property.

    AN ACT Relating to condemnation of blighted property; and amending RCW 35.80A.010.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 35.80A.010 and 1989 c 271 s 239 are each amended to read as follows:

    Every county, city, and town may acquire by condemnation, in accordance with the notice requirements and other procedures for condemnation provided in Title 8 RCW, any property, dwelling, building, or structure which constitutes a blight on the surrounding neighborhood.  A "blight on the surrounding neighborhood" is any property, dwelling, building, or structure that has not been lawfully occupied for a period of one year or more, constitutes a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare as determined by the ((county health department in the applicable county and)) director of public works or the director's designee in the applicable jurisdiction or that is or has been associated with illegal drug activity during the previous twelve months.  Prior to such condemnation, the local governing body shall adopt a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the real property described therein is necessary to eliminate neighborhood blight.  Condemnation of property, dwellings, buildings, and structures for the purposes described in this chapter is declared to be for a public use.

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