News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 5, 2003
Contact:  Michael Marchand or Kirsten Kendrick, Governor’s Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Advances Regulatory Reform and Improved Service Delivery Through Executive Order and Legislation

Gov. Gary Locke today signed an executive order and announced his support of proposed regulatory reform legislation that together would further enhance the speed and efficiency of state agencies and provide clearer regulatory standards for businesses. These actions will promote the state’s competitiveness and create jobs while still protecting the environment and worker safety.

“It’s all about creating more jobs for Washington citizens and maintaining the quality of our natural environment,” Locke said. “We need to streamline the processes and help businesses understand their obligations. Regulatory reform benefits both applicants and state agencies and makes our state an even better place to do business.”

Within the proposed legislation the governor is supporting are provisions for a wide range of assistance and coordination on regulatory and permitting issues, including the creation of a new Office of Regulatory Assistance. This office, located within the Office of Financial Management, would provide businesses with up-to-date information on regulations and would work closely with agencies to ensure clear, efficient and non-duplicative efforts. Other aspects of the proposed regulatory reform legislation would aid in informing businesses of new rule adoptions and rule changes.

“We recognize that it can be difficult for business owners to keep up with the necessary permitting requirements and rule changes, and we want to help them ensure full compliance,” Locke said. “These proposed reforms are good for businesses and citizens of Washington and improve our regulatory environment.”

The governor also signed into effect an executive order requiring the need for each state agency to better serve Washington’s citizens and businesses through better customer service. The order stresses the need for agencies to be more efficient, consistent and clear in their practices. In addition, the order directs rule-making agencies to send a copy of each rule they adopt to the legislative Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee. This committee exists to review rules to determine if they are consistent with legislative intent.

Locke today praised the regulatory and permitting efficiencies and culture change that have transformed the state Department of Ecology, which has served as a model for similar changes now underway at the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).

“The Department of Ecology is on track to issue 90 percent of its water quality certifications in 90 days, and that is helping us attract even more business to our state,” Locke said. “I commend Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons and his staff for their great work. Similar big changes are now taking place at L&I.”

L&I Director Paul Trause and his agency are making their regulations easier to understand, including the ergonomics rule, which improves workplace safety.

“Under the leadership of Gov. Locke, we are taking steps to ensure that the ergonomics rule is both understandable and enforceable,” Trause said.

Trause noted that L&I has already conducted ergonomics workshops and more than 150 assessments for employers. The agency also has held nearly 50 demonstration projects to develop ways to identify potential hazards and correct them in the most cost-effective manner.

The governor has directed Trause to do even more with respect to the ergonomics rule. The agency will:
· Establish an Ergonomics Resource Center to make ergonomics expertise and assistance readily available to employers;
· Build an Ergonomics Clearinghouse to give employers easy access to simple, practical information on reducing hazards and protecting workers;
· Develop industry-by-industry checklists to guide employers through the rule;
· Establish a task force that focuses on small businesses;
· Appoint an ergonomics ombudsman to work with employers, employees and safety professionals to implement the ergonomics rule.

Efforts for regulatory reform were part of the recommendations of the Washington Competitiveness Council, created by Locke in 2001.

Regulatory Reform Legislation

The governor supports the following regulatory reform legislation:

HB 1310 (Rep. Jan Shabro, R-Sumner) and Senate Bill SB 5766 (Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn) - Providing businesses with notice of administrative rules. These require the state’s departments of Employment Security, Labor and Industries, Ecology and Revenue to create lists of businesses and other applicants wishing to be notified about new agency developments, such as new rules. Within 200 days after adopting a rule, each agency must notify everyone on its list.

HB 1334 (Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton) and SB 5256 (Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn) - Requiring cost and benefit assessments early in the rule-making process. These bills require agencies that adopt “significant rules,” rules that set standards for receiving a license or permit or could result in a penalty, to have a cost-benefit analysis prepared when they propose the draft rule, so interested parties can comment on its validity or on the rule’s costs to them during the public comment period. Then the agencies must have a final cost-benefit analysis available when they issue the final rule.

HB 1550 (Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham) - Revising the duties of and renaming the Office of Permit Assistance. This bill changes the Office of Permit Assistance, which was moved under the governor’s auspices by the 2002 Legislature, into the Office of Regulatory Assistance. The new office will serve as an information center for businesses and citizens. It is to establish a Web site that links agency rules (those in effect and those being developed), permit requirements, and economic development programs.

HB 1007 (Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes) - Establishing a permitting bill of rights. This “permitting bill of rights” says that when a citizen or business applies for a permit or license, the state has an obligation to tell them what information they must provide, how long it is likely to take to receive the permit or license, what the costs will be, and - if the permit is denied - why. Beginning at the end of 2004, agencies will have to prepare annual reports that address how well they have met these requirements and also display their fees and timelines for processing permits and licenses.

SB 5694 (Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester) - Integrated permit system. The intent of this bill is to develop and adopt an integrated permit system. The Office of Permit Assistance, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, the Transportation Permit Efficiency and Accountability Committee, and state, local, federal and tribal governments will develop this system.

SB 5761 (Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch) - Industrial projects of statewide significance. This bill expands the statute that allows for designation of industrial projects of statewide significance and strengthens the permit coordination provisions. Once designated by the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), the Office of Permit Assistance manages the permit coordination for the project. Local governments must approve the project, and upon CTED’s designation of the project, local governments must expedite the environmental review and permit processing.

SB 5776 (Sen. Mark Doumit, D-Cathlamet) - Appeal of permit decision. This bill would consolidate the appeals process for certain projects. It would consolidate permits and move them through the appeals process as one package.

HB 1526 (Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham) - Cost reimbursement agreements. This bill extends the deadline for establishment of voluntary cost-reimbursement agreements between a permit applicant and a state or local government. The deadline is extended from July 1, 2005, to July 1, 2007. These agreements provide funds from the applicant for the staff necessary to process the applications. The project must be a complex project that requires an environmental impact statement.


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