SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5893

As of February 23, 2001

Title:  An act relating to local government records.

Brief Description:  Increasing the surcharge on county auditor recording fees.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin, Haugen, Sheahan, Horn and Gardner; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/26/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Background:  Each instrument recorded with the county auditor is charged $1 for the archives and record management account in the state treasury.  This surcharge is used solely for archiving local government records.  The authority to make this auditor=s surcharge expires June 30, 2001.

A different surcharge of $20 is imposed by state agencies for unpaid taxes or liabilities.  This surcharge is imposed upon the judgment debtor in the form of a penalty in addition to the $5 filing fee.  It is called the judgment debtor surcharge.

The archives and records management account consists of the judgment debtor surcharge, the archives and records management surcharge and the collected charges paid by state agencies for the services they receive from the Division of Archives and Records Management.

Summary of Bill:  The surcharge for archives and records management is increased to $2 per recorded instrument.  The archives and records management account may be used for providing access to the archived records of local governments.

The expiration date of the authority for the surcharge is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2001.