HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 815

BYRepresentatives Hine, Brough and Haugen

Establishing procedures for enforcement of delinquent storm water control charges.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (13)

     Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The law authorizing counties to provide storm sewers references city laws for enforcing and foreclosing liens on delinquent storm sewer service charges.

City law provides for an interest of not exceeding eight percent per annum to be applied to delinquent sewer service charges. City law requires that lien foreclosure actions be commenced within two years of the sewer charges becoming delinquent.  City law provides that a sewerage lien for unpaid charges shall not extend for a period of up to six months, unless a lien notice on the property is filed.

SUMMARY:

As an option to conforming with city law on enforcing and foreclosing liens on delinquent storm water sewer service charges, a county may by resolution or ordinance provide for: (1) interest on the delinquent charges to be up to twelve percent per annum; (2) a sewerage lien for unpaid charges applying for a period of up to one year, unless a lien notice on the property is filed; and (3) an action to foreclose on unpaid charges may be commenced after three years from the date the charges become delinquent.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Ron Main, King County.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     This gives more flexibility to counties.  They do not want to foreclose on delinquent charges, as this is very expensive.  This allows the county to wait longer before foreclosure actions are initiated.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.