BILL REQ. #:  H-0862.2 

Read first time 01/22/2007.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a growth management needs and priorities task force; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) A joint legislative and executive task force is established for the purposes of gathering information, identifying issues, and developing recommendations on policy choices related to the effective implementation of the state's growth management act.
     (2) The task force shall be comprised of two members from each of the major legislative caucuses of the house of representatives and the senate as appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor or the governor's designee, and the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development. Staff support shall be provided by the Ruckelshaus center at the University of Washington, the department of community, trade, and economic development, and legislative staff.
     (3) The task force shall convene its first meeting not later than August 1, 2007. The task force shall consult with local governments and other groups responsible for, affected by, or involved in the implementation of the growth management act. The task force shall secure research and facilitation services from the Ruckelshaus center, and may establish work teams or advisory groups, as needed, to support their work.
     (4) The task force shall secure an independent assessment by the Ruckelshaus center of the effectiveness of land use programs in Washington in achieving the goals of the state's growth management act. The assessment shall rely on available information and focus on key benchmarks for each goal of the act.
     (5) By December 1, 2007, the task force shall issue a report with recommendations on legislative and executive actions that address, at a minimum, the following topics: (a) How the best available science is identified and applied when local governments develop regulations to protect critical areas under the growth management act, and the relationship of those regulations to preexisting land uses; and (b) a review of the appeals process for actions taken under the growth management act, including data on the number and outcome of cases, and any recommendations on needed improvements to the appeals process.
     (6) By June 30, 2008, the task force shall issue a report with recommendations on legislative and executive actions that address, at a minimum, the following topics: (a) How to better meet the infrastructure and basic service needs of growing communities, including schools, local roads, fire and police service, and water, sewer, and other utilities, with recommendations for financing these service and infrastructure needs; (b) how to ensure that state roads provide a level of service consistent with local growth management decisions; (c) the effect of the vested rights doctrine on the achievement of the goals and requirements of the growth management act; (d) the effect of the provisions for fully contained communities and master planned resorts on the achievement of the goals and requirements of the growth management act; (e) performance measures for the ongoing evaluation of land use programs, based on the assessment conducted under subsection (4) of this section; and (f) any recommendations for additional topics that warrant continued work by the task force or by other groups.
     (7) This section expires June 30, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the purposes of this act.