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House OKs Linville business bill - Chamber also clears two other
bills friendly to business. Sharon Michael, The Bellingham Herald 2/19/03 OLYMPIA, WA- Three bills on House Democrats' to-do list for business passed the House unanimously Wednesday. A bill sponsored by Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, would change the name of the state Office of Permit Assistance to the Office of Regulatory Assistance and broaden its mission to include assisting citizens and businesses to navigate the state's regulatory waters beyond the permitting process. "It's been a major priority of the business community, and we got it done today," said Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. The bill also requires the state to hire a director for the office by June 1, 2003. "Without a director, the kind of coordination we need with the agencies isn't happening," Linville said. Linville's bill comes with a price tag - more than $173,000 for staff and expenses for the 2003-2005 budget period, according to the state Office of Financial Management. "That's if we have to add new staff," Linville said, adding that there is a statewide hiring freeze in effect. "We're not expecting this to be a new person." A second bill - one of a slate of bills based on recommendations of the Governor's Competitiveness Council - would provide ongoing funding for the Community Economic Revitalization Board to help pay for critical infrastructure improvements to support economic development. Rep. Velma Veloria, D-Seattle is the prime sponsor. The third business-friendly bill passed Wednesday came out of the House Democrats' competitiveness task force on which Linville and Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes, serve. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kathryn Haigh, D-Shelton, requires state agencies to do cost/benefit analyses early in the rule-making process and make that information available to the public. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In other legislative action ...
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