FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5144

                              C 204 L 89

BYSenate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen and DeJarnatt)

Preserving documents recorded with the county auditors.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

House Committe on Local Government

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

County auditor offices are the repositories of many public records and other documents.  Many historic documents recorded or filed with county auditors are deteriorating due to age and environmental degradation.  It has been suggested that these documents should be preserved.

SUMMARY:

County auditors are authorized to install and maintain improved systems to copy, preserve, and index all recorded documents held by the county (including photomicrographics and computerized digital storage).

A surcharge of $2.00 per recorded instrument is imposed for modernizing and improving the document recording and indexing system.  Fifty percent of the surcharge receipts are retained by the county and deposited in the auditor's operation and maintenance fund for preserving historical documents.  The other 50 percent is transmitted monthly to the State Treasurer to be placed in the "centennial document preservation and modernization account."  After deducting administrative costs (not to exceed 1 percent) the State Treasurer distributes these monies on a yearly basis to the counties as follows: (1) half of the monies are distributed equally among the counties; and (2) the balance is distributed to counties in direct proportion to their populations.  The monies received by a county from the State Treasurer must be placed into a new account entitled the "auditor's centennial document preservation and modernization account."  These funds are to be used exclusively for the purposes of preserving historical documents recorded or filed with the county.  One dollar of the surcharge will expire January 1, 1995.  The state collection and disbursement program expires on the same date.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   47    1

     House 96  0 (House amended)

     Senate   45    1 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989