HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2
BYRepresentatives Haugen, Hine, Allen, Nutley, Ferguson, Barnes, Valle, Unsoeld and P. King
Modifying provisions relating to water and sewer districts.
House Committe on Local Government
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (12)
Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith, and Zellinsky.
House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEBRUARY 22, 1987
BACKGROUND:
Both sewer districts and water districts have been authorized to provide sanitary sewers, storm sewers, street lighting, and water facilities. The statutes relating to sewer districts and water districts are substantially the same. The authority of a sewer district to provide water facilities references water district procedures. The authority of a water district to provide sewer facilities references sewer district procedures.
SUMMARY:
SUBSTITUTE BILL: Statutes relating to both sewer districts and water districts are changed as follows:
(1) The period of time is reduced from 90 days, to 30 days, after the district adopts a resolution to proceed with establishing the street lighting system, when a district loses its authority to establish the street lighting system if a protest petition is filed.
(2) The size of a district board of commissioners may be increased from three to five members.
(3) A commissioner position can be declared vacant if the commissioner has unexcused absences from three consecutive regularly scheduled district meetings. The commissioner must be mailed notice after he or she misses the second consecutive meeting that such action will be taken.
(4) Revenue bonds can be issued for any purpose or function that a district has been authorized in statute.
(5) Special assessments from a utility local improvement district (ULID) can be deposited into a fund used to pay for improvement costs prior to the issuance of revenue bonds.
(6) A district can annex areas unilaterally if the area is less than 100 acres and has at least 80 percent of its boundaries coterminous with part of the boundaries of the annexing district and another district. A timely filed referendum petition can force an election on the annexation.
(7) Territory in one district can be transferred to another district upon petition of the owners of 60 percent of the area, and approval by the boards of commissioners of both districts.
(8) It is specified that reasonable attorneys' fees may be included in a judgment foreclosing liens on delinquent local improvement assessments of a district.
(9) A district may permit installment payments on connection charges to be made over 15 years.
Sewer district laws are changed authorizing sewer districts to provide approved septic tanks and approved septic tank systems, and facilities to collect, treat, and dispose of wastewater, and to control pollution from wastewater, and to protect and rehabilitate surface and underground waters
SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL: Corrects references to certain laws. Uses a single term for "special assessments." Uses a single term for "local improvement district." Deletes authority of a sewer district to provide a system of "wastewater management," but expressly allows them to provide septic tanks. Authorizes a water district to accept installment payments on connection charges. Allows districts to issue revenue bonds for their express purposes and functions instead of "corporate purposes."
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: Bill Mudge, Washington State Association of Sewer Districts and Joe Daniels, Washington State Association of Water Districts.
House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.
House Committee - Testimony For: This is a technical bill making numerous small changes. Red tape is removed from several procedures. Fewer bonds will need to be issued when a ULID is created.
House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.