SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6465

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2002

Title:  An act relating to county auditors.

Brief Description:  Revising limitations on county auditors.

Sponsors:  Senators Carlson, Gardner and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/31/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/13/02, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, McCaslin, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Background:  The county auditor and any deputy appointed by him or her may not perform the duties of any other county officer or act as deputy for any other county officer.  No other county officer or his or her deputy may act as auditor or deputy or perform any of the duties of the office of county auditor.

Summary of Bill:  The county auditor and his or her deputy may perform clerical or ministerial (nondiscretionary) duties for any other county officer.  Other county officers or their deputy may perform clerical or ministerial (nondiscretionary) duties for the office of county auditor.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This will result in efficiencies among the various county officers.  It will be of great help for Clark County's one-stop permit process.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Greg Kinsey, Clark County Auditor; Doug Lasher, Clark County Treasurer.

House Amendment(s):  The striking amendment eliminates the underlying bill and removes the prohibition in existing law on county auditors and their deputies from performing the duties of any other county officer or his or her deputy.  It also removes the prohibition on any other county officer and his or her deputy from performing the duties of the county auditor or his or her deputy.