(1) Whenever the department operates, or the secretary enters into a contract to operate, a secure community transition facility except the secure community transition facility established pursuant to RCW 71.09.250(1), the secure community transition facility may be operated only after the public notification and opportunities for review and comment as required by this section.

(2) The secretary shall establish a process for early and continuous public participation in establishing or relocating secure community transition facilities. The process shall include, at a minimum, public meetings in the local communities affected, as well as opportunities for written and oral comments, in the following manner:

(a) If there are more than three sites initially selected as potential locations and the selection process by the secretary or a service provider reduces the number of possible sites for a secure community transition facility to no fewer than three, the secretary or the chief operating officer of the service provider shall notify the public of the possible siting and hold at least two public hearings in each community where a secure community transition facility may be sited.

(b) When the secretary or service provider has determined the secure community transition facility's location, the secretary or the chief operating officer of the service provider shall hold at least one additional public hearing in the community where the secure community transition facility will be sited.

(c) When the secretary has entered negotiations with a service provider and only one site is under consideration, then at least two public hearings shall be held.

(d) To provide adequate notice of, and opportunity for interested persons to comment on, a proposed location, the secretary or the chief operating officer of the service provider shall provide at least fourteen days' advance notice of the meeting to all newspapers of general circulation in the community, all radio and television stations generally available to persons in the community, any school district in which the secure community transition facility would be sited or whose boundary is within two miles of a proposed secure community transition facility, any library district in which the secure community transition facility would be sited, local business or fraternal organizations that request notification from the secretary or agency, and any person or property owner within a one-half mile radius of the proposed secure community transition facility. Before initiating this process, the department of social and health services shall contact local government planning agencies in the communities containing the proposed secure community transition facility. The department of social and health services shall coordinate with local government agencies to ensure that opportunities are provided for effective citizen input and to reduce the duplication of notice and meetings.

(3) If local government land use regulations require that a special use or conditional use permit be submitted and approved before a secure community transition facility can be sited, and the process for obtaining such a permit includes public notice and hearing requirements similar to those required under this section, the requirements of this section shall not apply to the extent they would duplicate requirements under the local land use regulations.

(4) This section applies only to secure community transition facilities sited after June 26, 2001.

Intent—Severability—Effective dates—2001 2nd sp.s. c 12: See notes following RCW 71.09.250.