WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

71.09.342 - Transition facilities -- Siting -- Local regulations preempted, when -- Consideration of public safety measures.

Transition facilities — Siting — Local regulations preempted, when — Consideration of public safety measures.

(1) After October 1, 2002, notwithstanding RCW 36.70A.103 or any other law, this section preempts and supersedes local plans, development regulations, permitting requirements, inspection requirements, and all other laws as necessary to enable the department to site, construct, renovate, occupy, and operate secure community transition facilities within the borders of the following:

     (a) Any county that had five or more persons civilly committed from that county, or detained at the special commitment center under a pending civil commitment petition from that county where a finding of probable cause has been made, on April 1, 2001, if the department determines that the county has not met the requirements of RCW 36.70A.200 with respect to secure community transition facilities. This subsection does not apply to the county in which the secure community transition facility authorized under RCW 71.09.250(1) is located; and

     (b) Any city located within a county listed in (a) of this subsection that the department determines has not met the requirements of RCW 36.70A.200 with respect to secure community transition facilities.

     (2) The department's determination under subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section is final and is not subject to appeal under chapter 34.05 or 36.70A RCW.

     (3) When siting a facility in a county or city that has been preempted under this section, the department shall consider the policy guidelines established under RCW 71.09.285 and 71.09.290 and shall hold the hearings required in RCW 71.09.315.

     (4) Nothing in this section prohibits the department from:

     (a) Siting a secure community transition facility in a city or county that has complied with the requirements of RCW 36.70A.200 with respect to secure community transition facilities, including a city that is located within a county that has been preempted. If the department sites a secure community transition facility in such a city or county, the department shall use the process established by the city or county for siting such facilities; or

     (b) Consulting with a city or county that has been preempted under this section regarding the siting of a secure community transition facility.

     (5)(a) A preempted city or county may propose public safety measures specific to any finalist site to the department. The measures must be consistent with the location of the facility at that finalist site. The proposal must be made in writing by the date of:

     (i) The second hearing under RCW 71.09.315(2)(a) when there are three finalist sites; or

     (ii) The first hearing under RCW 71.09.315(2)(b) when there is only one site under consideration.

     (b) The department shall respond to the city or county in writing within fifteen business days of receiving the proposed measures. The response shall address all proposed measures.

     (c) If the city or county finds that the department's response is inadequate, the city or county may notify the department in writing within fifteen business days of the specific items which it finds inadequate. If the city or county does not notify the department of a finding that the response is inadequate within fifteen business days, the department's response shall be final.

     (d) If the city or county notifies the department that it finds the response inadequate and the department does not revise its response to the satisfaction of the city or county within seven business days, the city or county may petition the governor to designate a person with law enforcement expertise to review the response under RCW 34.05.479.

     (e) The governor's designee shall hear a petition filed under this subsection and shall make a determination within thirty days of hearing the petition. The governor's designee shall consider the department's response, and the effectiveness and cost of the proposed measures, in relation to the purposes of this chapter. The determination by the governor's designee shall be final and may not be the basis for any cause of action in civil court.

     (f) The city or county shall bear the cost of the petition to the governor's designee. If the city or county prevails on all issues, the department shall reimburse the city or county costs incurred, as provided under chapter 34.05 RCW.

     (g) Neither the department's consideration and response to public safety conditions proposed by a city or county nor the decision of the governor's designee shall affect the preemption under this section or the department's authority to site, construct, renovate, occupy, and operate the secure community transition facility at that finalist site or at any finalist site.

     (6) Until June 30, 2009, the secretary shall site, construct, occupy, and operate a secure community transition facility sited under this section in an environmentally responsible manner that is consistent with the substantive objectives of chapter 43.21C RCW, and shall consult with the department of ecology as appropriate in carrying out the planning, construction, and operations of the facility. The secretary shall make a threshold determination of whether a secure community transition facility sited under this section would have a probable significant, adverse environmental impact. If the secretary determines that the secure community transition facility has such an impact, the secretary shall prepare an environmental impact statement that meets the requirements of RCW 43.21C.030 and 43.21C.031 and the rules promulgated by the department of ecology relating to such statements. Nothing in this subsection shall be the basis for any civil cause of action or administrative appeal.

     (7) In no case may a secure community transition facility be sited adjacent to, immediately across a street or parking lot from, or within the line of sight of a risk potential activity or facility in existence at the time a site is listed for consideration unless the site that the department has chosen in a particular county or city was identified pursuant to a process for siting secure community transition facilities adopted by that county or city in compliance with RCW 36.70A.200. "Within the line of sight" means that it is possible to reasonably visually distinguish and recognize individuals.

     (8) This section does not apply to the secure community transition facility established pursuant to RCW 71.09.250(1).