H-4631.1  _______________________________________________

               SUBSTITUTE HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4018

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Mulliken, Doumit, Mielke, Scott, Ericksen, Fortunato, Hatfield, Schindler, Dunn, Thomas, D. Sommers and Esser)

Read first time 02/03/2000.  Referred to Committee on .

Petitioning the Governor to direct state agencies adopting rules to examine and minimize impacts that would create new costs for local governments.

    TO THE HONORABLE GARY LOCKE, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, Local governments have experienced and may continue to experience significant budget impacts from the passage of Chapter 1, Laws of 2000 (Initiative Measure No. 695); and

    WHEREAS, As a result of Chapter 1, Laws of 2000 (Initiative Measure No. 695), local governments are reviewing their budgets, establishing priorities, and identifying costs of local government services and programs; and

    WHEREAS, Chapter 2, Laws of 1994 (Initiative Measure No. 601) required the state to consider the costs imposed on local governments by laws requiring new programs and increased levels of service; and

    WHEREAS, Rules adopted by state agencies may create substantial costs for local governments; and

    WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of local governments and the state to mitigate the financial impacts of rules adopted by state agencies for a sufficient period to allow local governments to develop strategies to comply with the requirements of Chapter 1, Laws of 2000 (Initiative Measure No. 695).

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Governor immediately issue an executive order requiring state agencies to:  (1) Examine the impacts of all proposed rules to determine if they will result in increased costs for local governments; (2) notify associations of local governments of proposed rules affecting their membership if it is determined that the rules will result in increased costs or added administrative burdens for local governments; (3) utilize rule development processes specified in chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act, to mitigate cost impacts of proposed rules on local governments; (4) ensure that adoption of new rules and rule amendments is consistent with the principles and requirements of the governor's executive order 97-02, particularly those that emphasize demonstration of need, effectiveness and efficiency, clarity, consistency with legislative intent, coordination with other jurisdictions and partnership with local governments, consideration of cost, and fairness; and (5) utilize rule development mechanisms to ensure that cost impacts are minimized and participation in rule development is maximized.  Examples include usability testing of rules and other intensive stakeholder involvement methods.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Gary Locke, Governor of the State of Washington.

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