House Sponsors: SCOTT-MATHIAS-ERWIN-SLONE-HAMOS, BEAUBIEN, DART, LANG AND BERNS. Senate Sponsors: RAUSCHENBERGER-OBAMA-RONEN-MADIGAN,L-PETERSON Short description: LOC PLANNING TECH ASSISTANCE Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Creates the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to promote the principles of sensible planning. Defines "sensible planning." Allows the Department to make grants to counties and municipalities to develop, update, administer, and implement comprehensive plans, subsidiary plans, land development regulations, and development incentives that conform to the principles of sensible planning. Requires the Department to set eligibility criteria for the grants, criteria for the use of grant funds, and reporting requirements. Allows the Department to prepare model ordinances, manuals, and other technical publications that are founded upon the principles of sensible planning. Allows the Department to provide educational and training programs promoting the principles of sensible planning. Requires the Department to report at least annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on (i) the results and impacts of county and municipal activities funded by the grants; (ii) the distribution of the grants; (iii) model ordinances, manuals, and technical publications prepared by the Department; and (iv) educational and training programs required by the Department. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Planning Fund. Effective immediately. FISCAL NOTE (Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) The fiscal impact of House Bill 505 for the preparation of publications, education and training programs, and annual re- porting is estimated at $902,400 from the Local Planning Fund. The amount of technical assistance grant funding available and the costs of administering those grants cannot be determined from this legislation. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes everything. Creates the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act. Allows the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to make technical assistance grants to units of local government; planning agencies; educational institutions; and other not-for-profit organizations and associations to develop, update, administer, and implement comprehensive plans, subsidiary plans, land development regulations, development incentives, market feasibility studies, architectural renderings, and environmental assessments that promote comprehensive planning. Provides that the grants may be used to write or revise local comprehensive plans. Suggests elements to be included in a comprehensive plan. Allows the Department to set eligibility requirements for the grants, set criteria for the use of grant funds, and require periodic reporting of the results and impact of activities funded by the grants. Allows the Department to prepare model ordinances, manuals, and other technical publications that promote comprehensive planning. Provides that if a county or municipality is receiving assistance in writing or revising a comprehensive plan, land use regulations and land use actions must be consistent with the comprehensive plan. Provides that counties and municipalities that adopt official comprehensive plans may be eligible for additional preferences in certain State programs. Allows the Department to provide educational and training programs that promote and encourage comprehensive planning. Requires the Department to annually report certain information to the Governor and the General Assembly. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Planning Fund. Effective immediately. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act. Contains a short title only. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: JAN-07-2003 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status