HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1340

BYRepresentatives Pruitt, Prince and McLean

Specifying qualifications for persons assessing real property.

House Committe on Revenue

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; Holland, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Basich, Brumsickle, Fraser, Grant, Haugen, Phillips, Rust, H. Sommers and Van Luven.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Fuhrman and Silver.

House Staff:Rick Wickman and Bob Longman (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON REVENUE FEBRUARY 10, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Persons employed as assistants or deputies to county assessors must meet the following requirements:

1)  Graduation from an accredited high school or high school equivalency examination.

2)  At least one year experience in real property transactions, appraisal, or assessment, or at least one year experience in a combination of the three.

3)  Knowledge of repair and remodeling of buildings and improvement of land, and the significance of locality and area to the value of real property.

4)  Knowledge of the standards of appraisal of property as established by the Department of Revenue.

The State Department of Personnel, with the advice of the Department of Revenue, must administer an examination of each individual concerning items 3 and 4 above.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Revenue, rather than the Department of Personnel, shall prepare and administer the state examination for persons employed as assistants or deputies to county assessors.

The bill allows the Department of Revenue to specify minimum educational requirements in lieu of individuals passing the state examination.

A high school diploma or equivalent is no longer required for individuals acting as assistants or deputies to a county assessor.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute eliminated the mandated $50 and $100 compensation for professional staff maintaining professional standards.  It also provided for minimum educational requirements for professional staff by Department of Revenue rule.  A high school diploma or equivalent was eliminated as a requirement for employees valuing or appraising property.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 2, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Victor A. Battson, Whatcom County Assessor; Richard W Madden, Kitsap County Assessor; Ben Gassaway, Clark County Assessor and Linda Lethlean, Department of Revenue.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Professional assessor employees working under a county assessor need additional testing requirements including minimum qualifications to carry out their assigned duties. Additional compensation for professional assessor employees of $50 and $100 per month needs to be statutorily mandated for those who maintain professional qualifications.  Testing procedures conducted by the Department of Personnel should be changed to the Department of Revenue for professional employees.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.