SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5115

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Judiciary, January 29, 2001

Title:  An act relating to court filing fees.

Brief Description:  Revising court filing fees for tax warrants and recovery of state agency overpayments.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa, Long, Fairley, Kline, Hargrove and McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  1/23/01, 1/29/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5115 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Costa, Hargrove, Johnson, Kastama, Long, McCaslin, Roach, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786‑7439)

Background: There is a $5 fee, paid to the county, for filing warrants for unpaid taxes and recovery of overpayments of state benefits.  This fee for filing unpaid tax warrants has not been changed since 1963.  Tax warrants filed by the state Department of Revenue are also subject to division, with 46 percent of the fee deposited in the public safety and education account.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The fees, after July 1, 2003, for filing tax warrants for unpaid taxes or recovery of overpayments of benefits by any state agency are raised from $5 to $20.  Forty-six percent of the first $5 collected for these fees is directed to the public safety and education account.  The fee for filing a disclaimer of interest is increased from $2 to $20.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The first $5 of filing fees for tax warrants and recovery of overpayments are subject to division, so the public safety and education account will not lose funds.  The emergency clause is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The present $5 filing fees collected in these cases does not cover the cost of processing for counties.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Debbie Wilke, Washington Association of County Officials; Teri Nielsen, Cowlitz County Clerk; Dean Logan, Kitsap County Clerk.