READ FIRST TIME 02/07/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to mitigating the impacts of climate change through the growth management act; amending RCW 36.70A.280; adding a new section to chapter 36.70A RCW; creating new sections; providing expiration dates; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes that the implications of a changed climate will affect the people, institutions, and economies of Washington. The legislature also recognizes that it is in the public interest to reduce the state's dependence upon foreign sources of carbon fuels that do not promote energy independence or the economic strength of the state. The legislature finds that the state, including its counties, cities, and residents, must engage in activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence upon foreign oil.
     (2) The legislature further recognizes that: (a) Patterns of land use development influence transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions and the need for foreign oil; (b) fossil fuel-based transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington; and (c) the state and its residents will not achieve emission reductions established in RCW 80.80.020 without a significant decrease in transportation emissions.
     (3) The legislature, therefore, finds that it is in the public interest of the state to provide appropriate legal authority, where required, and to aid in the development of policies, practices, and methodologies that may assist counties and cities in addressing challenges associated with greenhouse gas emissions and our state's dependence upon foreign oil.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department must develop and provide to counties and cities a range of advisory climate change response methodologies, a computer modeling program, and estimates of greenhouse gas emission reductions resulting from specific measures. The advisory methodologies, computer modeling program, and estimates must reflect regional and local variations and the diversity of counties and cities planning under RCW 36.70A.040. Advisory methodologies, the computer modeling program, estimates, and guidance developed under this section must be consistent with recommendations developed by the advisory policy committee established in section 4 of this act.
     (2) The department, in complying with this section, must work with the department of transportation on reductions of vehicle miles traveled through efforts associated with, and independent of, the process directed by RCW 47.01.--- (section 8, chapter . . . (E2SHB 2815)), Laws of 2008.
     (3) The department must complete and make available the advisory climate change response methodologies, computer program, and estimates required by this section by December 1, 2009. The advisory climate change response methodologies, computer program, and estimates must be updated two years before each completion date established in RCW 36.70A.130(4)(a).
     (4) This section expires January 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) A local government global warming mitigation and adaptation program is established. The program must be administered by the department of community, trade, and economic development and must conclude by June 30, 2010. The department must, through a competitive process, select three or fewer counties and six or fewer cities for the program. Counties selected must reflect a range of opportunities to address climate change in urbanizing, resource, or agricultural areas. Cities selected must reflect a range of sizes, geographic locations, and variations between those that are highly urbanized and those that are less so that have more residential dwellings than employment positions.
     (2) The program is established to assist the selected counties and cities that: (a) Are addressing climate change through their land use and transportation planning processes; and (b) aspire to address climate change through their land use and transportation planning processes, but lack necessary resources to do so. The department of community, trade, and economic development may fund proposals to inventory and mitigate global warming emissions, or adapt to the adverse impacts of global warming, using criteria it develops to accomplish the objectives of this section and sections 2 and 4 of this act.
     (3) The department of community, trade, and economic development must provide grants and technical assistance to aid the selected counties and cities in their efforts to anticipate, mitigate, and adapt to global warming and its associated problems. The department, in providing grants and technical assistance, must ensure that grants and assistance are awarded to counties and cities meeting the criteria established in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section.
     (4) The department of community, trade, and economic development must provide a report of program findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by January 1, 2011. The report must also consider the positive and negative impacts to affordable housing, employment, transportation costs, and economic development that result from addressing the impacts of climate change at the local level.
     (5) This section expires January 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1)(a) With the use of funds provided by specific appropriation, the department must prepare a report that includes:
     (i) Descriptions of actions counties and cities are taking to address climate change issues. The department must use readily available information when completing the requirements of this subsection (1)(a)(i);
     (ii) Recommendations of changes, if any, to chapter 36.70A RCW and other relevant statutes that would enable state and local governments to address climate change issues and the need to reduce dependence upon foreign oil through land use and transportation planning processes;
     (iii) Descriptions of existing and potential computer modeling and other analytic and assessment tools that could be used by counties and cities in addressing their proprietary and regulatory activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or dependence upon foreign oil;
     (iv) Considerations of positive and negative impacts to affordable housing, employment, transportation costs, and economic development that result from addressing the impacts of climate change at the local level;
     (v) Assessments of state and local resources, financial and otherwise, needed to fully implement recommendations resulting from and associated with (a)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection; and
     (vi) Recommendations for additional funding to implement the recommendations resulting from (a)(ii) of this subsection.
     (b) The department must submit the report required by this section to the governor and the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 2008.
     (2)(a) In preparing the report required by this section, the department must convene an advisory policy committee, with members as provided in this subsection.
     (i) The speaker of the house of representatives must appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.
     (ii) The president of the senate must appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.
     (iii) Three elected official members representing counties and five elected official members representing cities. Members appointed under this subsection (2)(a)(iii) must represent each of the jurisdictional areas of growth management hearings boards and must be appointed by state associations representing counties and cities.
     (iv) One member representing tribal governments, appointed by the governor.
     (b) Recommendations produced by the department under this section must be approved by a majority of the voting members of the advisory policy committee.
     (c) The advisory policy committee must have the following nonvoting ex officio members:
     (i) One member representing the office of the governor;
     (ii) One member representing an association of builders;
     (iii) One member representing an association of real estate professionals;
     (iv) One member representing an association of local government planners;
     (v) One member representing an association of agricultural interests;
     (vi) One member representing a nonprofit entity with experience in growth management and land use planning issues;
     (vii) One member representing a statewide business association;
     (viii) One member representing a nonprofit entity with experience in climate change issues;
     (ix) One member representing a nonprofit entity with experience in mobility and transportation issues;
     (x) One member representing an association of office and industrial properties;
     (xi) One member representing an association of architects; and
     (xii) One member representing an association of commercial forestry interests.
     (d)(i) The department, in preparing the report and presenting information and recommendations to the advisory policy committee, must convene a technical support team, with members as provided in this subsection.
     (A) The department of ecology must appoint one member representing the department of ecology.
     (B) The department must appoint one member representing the department.
     (C) The department of transportation must appoint one member representing the department of transportation.
     (ii) The department, in complying with this subsection (2)(d), must consult with the professional staffs of counties and cities or their state associations, and regional transportation planning organizations and must solicit assistance from these staffs in developing materials and options for consideration by the advisory policy committee.
     (3) Nominations for organizations represented in subsection (2) of this section must be submitted to the department by April 15, 2008.
     (4) For purposes of this section, "department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.
     (5) This section expires December 31, 2008.

Sec. 5   RCW 36.70A.280 and 2003 c 332 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A growth management hearings board shall hear and determine only those petitions alleging either:
     (a) That, except as provided otherwise by this subsection, a state agency, county, or city planning under this chapter is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, chapter 90.58 RCW as it relates to the adoption of shoreline master programs or amendments thereto, or chapter 43.21C RCW as it relates to plans, development regulations, or amendments, adopted under RCW 36.70A.040 or chapter 90.58 RCW. Nothing in this subsection authorizes a board to hear petitions alleging noncompliance with section 3 of this act; or
     (b) That the twenty-year growth management planning population projections adopted by the office of financial management pursuant to RCW 43.62.035 should be adjusted.
     (2) A petition may be filed only by: (a) The state, or a county or city that plans under this chapter; (b) a person who has participated orally or in writing before the county or city regarding the matter on which a review is being requested; (c) a person who is certified by the governor within sixty days of filing the request with the board; or (d) a person qualified pursuant to RCW 34.05.530.
     (3) For purposes of this section "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, state agency, governmental subdivision or unit thereof, or public or private organization or entity of any character.
     (4) To establish participation standing under subsection (2)(b) of this section, a person must show that his or her participation before the county or city was reasonably related to the person's issue as presented to the board.
     (5) When considering a possible adjustment to a growth management planning population projection prepared by the office of financial management, a board shall consider the implications of any such adjustment to the population forecast for the entire state.
     The rationale for any adjustment that is adopted by a board must be documented and filed with the office of financial management within ten working days after adoption.
     If adjusted by a board, a county growth management planning population projection shall only be used for the planning purposes set forth in this chapter and shall be known as a "board adjusted population projection". None of these changes shall affect the official state and county population forecasts prepared by the office of financial management, which shall continue to be used for state budget and planning purposes.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   This act is not intended to amend or affect chapter 353, Laws of 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   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 takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   If specific funding for the purposes of section 2 of this act, referencing section 2 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 2 of this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   If specific funding for the purposes of section 3 of this act, referencing section 3 of this act by bill or chapter number and section number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, section 3 of this act is null and void.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2008, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.