AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 30, No. 13
March 30, 2007  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
What You Need to Know Now
From the Director: Senate Releases Budget
Energy & Telecommunications
Environment & Water
General Local Government
Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development
Land Use & Housing
Law & Justice
Municipal Finance
Personnel & Labor Relations
Online Legislative Advocacy Tools
AWC Legislative Contacts & Officers

Land Use & Housing

AWC Priority
Timing of Accrual of Property Tax Revenues (ESSB 5836)

As reported in the March 16 Bulletin, this bill expedites the transfer of library and fire district property taxes in areas containing these services when annexed to a city. The House passed version will not be moving forward and the almost identical Senate version is moving forward. The Senate version was heard and passed from the House Local Government Committee on Thursday, March 29 and was amended to remove the Senate amendment aimed at changing the annexation process in the City of Aberdeen. The bill is in the Rules Committee and will hopefully soon move to the House Floor for action.

AWC Priority
Refinements to the Land Use and Housing Elements of GMA Plans (ESHB 1727)

As reported in the March 16 Bulletin, this bill was negotiated and AWC is no longer in opposition. As amended and passed unanimously by the House, it contained a provision (Sec. 4) modeled after some portions of HB 2045, which is an AWC-supported measure that did not pass out of the House Local Government Committee after its final meeting a few weeks ago. These provisions would require King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Thurston, Clark, Whatcom, Spokane and Yakima counties to:

1. Consult with their cities and report back to the Legislature by the end of 2007 about ways to better involve cities in changes to urban growth area boundaries and
2. Discuss how to facilitate adoption of development standards in unincorporated urban growth areas that are consistent with those of the adjoining city.

It also contained a more controversial provision that required these counties to adopt such consistent development regulations by a time certain for areas surrounded by one or more cities.

ESHB 1727 was heard before the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on Monday, March 26 at which time opposition to Sec. 4 was expressed – particularly the provision requiring adoption of consistent development regulations within areas surrounded by one or more cities.

On Wednesday, March 28 the committee passed out an amended version that removed the requirement to adopt consistent standards and discuss issues about adopting them. AWC hopes to continue discussions about reinserting some language acceptable to county and development interests that would facilitate consideration of more consistent development regulations in unincorporated urban growth areas in these counties. For more information, please contact Dave Williams, davew@awcnet.org.

AWC Priority
Regulating House-Banked Social Card Games (ESSB 5558)

ESSB 5558 was approved by the House Commerce and Labor Committee on March 29. The bill was initially forwarded to the House Appropriations Committee but some believe it may be re-referred to the Rules Committee. The bill grants local jurisdictions limited authority to determine the areas within which house-banked social card games may be conducted and grandfathers existing city moratoriums that limit the number of card rooms. Seventeen to twenty cities currently have some form of a "grandfather" clause that must be addressed before legal action is taken against the city, likely voiding their moratorium. The bill also retains cities ability to ban gambling establishments.

ESSB 5558 was amended by the House Commerce and Labor Committee eliminating the mandate for the use of a referendum associated with the annexation of areas that include a card room and the subsequent ban. AWC appreciates this clarification.

If the bill remains in the Appropriations Committee it must be approved prior to Monday, April 2, or considered dead for the year. AWC will be working to pass the bill.

If you have any questions or input on this issue, please contact Jim Justin at jimj@awcnet.org or Sheila Gall at sheilag@awcnet.org.

Community Justice Facilities (E2SHB 1733)

This bill to address siting of criminal justice and work release facilities by the Department of Corrections and the Department of Social and Health Services did not pass out of the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee prior to the legislative cut-off. The bill is considered dead for the session.