House Sponsors: SCOTT-MCKEON-GARRETT-HAMOS-MATHIAS, BEAUBIEN, WINTERS, O'CONNOR, SLONE, DART, FLOWERS, LANG, BROSNAHAN, MCCARTHY, BASSI AND GASH. Short description: LOC PLANNING TECHNICAL ASSISTN Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Creates the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act for the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to define and disseminate the principles of sensible planning. Authorizes the Department to encourage counties and municipalities to engage in planning, regulatory, and development approaches and techniques that conform to the principles of sensible planning by providing demonstration grants to prepare and implement comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision controls, other land development regulations, and development incentives that conform to the principles of sensible planning. Authorizes the Department to prepare and distribute model ordinances, manuals, and other technical publications that are founded upon and promote the principles of sensible planning and to research and report upon the results and impact of activities funded by the demonstration grants to the Governor and General Assembly. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Local Planning Technical Assistance Fund to provide moneys for the Department to implement and administer the Act. Effective immediately. FISCAL NOTE (Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) The fiscal impact for preparation of publications, education and training programs, and annual reporting is estimated to require 12 additional staff at a cost of $867,000 from the Local Planning Technical Assistance Fund. The amount of technical assistance grant funding available and the costs of administering those grants cannot be determined from HB3287. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes everything. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as introduced. Allows the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to delegate its authority under the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act to designated regional planning agencies. Requires at least 70% of the funds available under that Act to be made available through technical assistance grants. Provides that when awarding grants the Department must give priority to communities facing higher than State average growth rates in the past 3 years or having declined in population in the past 5 years. Makes other stylistic changes. Repeals the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act on June 30, 2005. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Provides that one of the purposes of the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act is to encourage natural resource preservation. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 3. Deletes a provision of the Local Planning Technical Assistance Act requiring technical assistance grants to be made in metropolitan areas of the State. Last action on Bill: THIRD READING/SHORT DEBATE/LOST 040-069-005 Last action date: 00-02-25 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 3 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status