To establish a permitting bill of rights for citizens. The bill lists four specific rights that apply to permits and licenses from any government entity for all laws or rules that are adopted or amended after August 1, 2003.   Official Text and Analysis.

By Representative Morris; and Representative Linville, who testified that the Permitting Bill of Rights is a simple and fundamental concept. People are facing a continual frustration in the permit application process. Currently people don't know what information is needed or required in obtaining a permit or license. There is no expectation of an agency to indicate when or if a permit will be issued. The newly created OPA will function in giving some clarity in the permitting process, but this bill is needed to ensure that the people of WA can expect to know the exact costs and information required in obtaining a permit. Additionally, people have the right to know a concrete yes or no answer. This bill has no intention of undermining any environmental laws or provisions.

By Joe Ryan, WA Environmental Council; and Bruce Wishart, People for Puget Sound, who testified that the bill is too broad. Because there are so many variables involved in the permitting process, and this bill includes such strict guidelines, it may result in some serious unintended consequences. Agencies and local governments do not have the ability to predict or control the time it will take to complete the permitting process. Often, additional information is discovered during the permitting process, which would subsequently lengthen the permitting time and permitting costs. The fact that an agency or local government could be held liable for any delay could potentially bankrupt the permitting agency. Agencies often receive partial information from the applicant which could cause a delay and in turn result in a lawsuit against the agency.

To clarify the type of information that will be provided to an applicant during the permitting process; to include a disclaimer for project modifications which may result in more time, more information, or more costs; and to remove any independent cause of action. The substitute also requires each agency to track its progress in meeting the above requirements, and to post those results on the agency website before December 31, 2004. Finally, the substitute removes any local requirements, and applies permitting rights only to state permits, licenses, or other legal authorizations.

But the bill did not pass the House by the cutoff date so it is considered a “dead bill.” (although technically the bill could become active at any time during the 2003-2004 session).

And active in the 2004 Legislative Session.