(1) The office of regulatory assistance is created in the office of financial management and must be administered by the office of the governor to help improve the regulatory system and assist citizens, businesses, and project proponents.

     (2) The governor must appoint a director. The director may employ a deputy director and a confidential secretary and such staff as are necessary, or contract with another state agency pursuant to chapter 39.34 RCW for support in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

     (3) The office must offer to:

     (a) Act as the central point of contact for the project proponent in communicating about defined issues;

     (b) Conduct project scoping as provided in RCW 43.42.050;

     (c) Verify that the project proponent has all the information needed to correctly apply for all necessary permits;

     (d) Provide general coordination services;

     (e) Coordinate the efficient completion among participating agencies of administrative procedures, such as collecting fees or providing public notice;

     (f) Maintain contact with the project proponent and the permit agencies to promote adherence to agreed schedules;

     (g) Assist in resolving any conflict or inconsistency among permit requirements and conditions;

     (h) Coordinate, to the extent practicable, with relevant federal permit agencies and tribal governments;

     (i) Facilitate meetings;

     (j) Manage a fully coordinated permit process, as provided in RCW 43.42.060;

     (k) Help local jurisdictions comply with the requirements of chapter 36.70B RCW by providing information about best permitting practices methods to improve communication with, and solicit early involvement of, state agencies when needed; and

     (l) Maintain and furnish information as provided in RCW 43.42.040.

     (4) The office must provide the following by September 1, 2009, and biennially thereafter, to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature:

     (a) A performance report including:

     (i) Information regarding use of the office's voluntary cost-reimbursement services as provided in RCW 43.42.070;

     (ii) The number and type of projects where the office provided services and the resolution provided by the office on any conflicts that arose on such projects;

     (iii) The agencies involved on specific projects;

     (iv) Specific information on any difficulty encountered in provision of services, implementation of programs or processes, or use of tools; and

     (v) Trend reporting that allows comparisons between statements of goals and performance targets and the achievement of those goals and targets; and

     (b) Recommendations on system improvements including recommendations regarding:

     (i) Measurement of overall system performance;

     (ii) Changes needed to make cost reimbursement, a fully coordinated permit process, multiagency permitting teams, and other processes effective; and

     (iii) Resolving any conflicts or inconsistencies arising from differing statutory or regulatory authorities, roles and missions of agencies, timing and sequencing of permitting and procedural requirements as identified by the office in the course of its duties.

[2011 c 149 § 2; 2009 c 97 § 4. Prior: 2007 c 231 § 5; 2007 c 94 § 2; 2003 c 71 § 2; 2002 c 153 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2011 c 149: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 29, 2011." [2011 c 149 § 4.]

     Findings -- Recommendations -- Reports encouraged -- 2007 c 231: See note following RCW 43.155.070.

     Effective date -- 2003 c 71 § 2: "Section 2 of this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 18, 2003]." [2003 c 71 § 7.]