FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1031

                          C 82 L 91

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Making various changes in sewer and water district law.

By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Wood, Haugen, Ferguson, Nelson, Horn, Roland, Paris and Nealey).

House Committee on Local Government

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Background:  Sewer districts and water districts are authorized to hire staff and provide staff with compensation, as well as health care services, group insurance, and term life insurance.  No provisions of law exist concerning the provision of insurance benefits for sewer district or water district commissioners.

Whenever a sewer district or water district leases its real property, the district is required to secure the lease by a performance bond with a penalty of an amount equal to the larger of "one-sixth of the term of the lease" or one year's rental.

In 1989, a statute relating to the general powers of water districts was amended twice in separate legislation.

Sewer districts and other local governments may impose utility charges for the availability of service, while water districts only may impose utility charges for actually providing service.

Summary:  A sewer district, or water district, with 5,000 or more customers providing health, group, or life insurance benefits to its employees may provide its commissioners with the same coverage.

The board of commissioners of a sewer district or water district may require a reasonable security deposit, in lieu of a performance bond, whenever district property is leased.

The water district statute that was amended twice in 1989 is reenacted to remove any ambiguity about the effect of the changes.

Water districts are authorized to adopt water conservation plans and emergency water use restrictions that are enforceable by the imposition of fines.  The commissioners may provide by resolution that if the fines are not paid for a specified period of time, the fines become a separate item for inclusion in the property owner billing.

A sewer district or water district may operate and maintain park or recreational facilities on real property that it owns or has an interest in that is not immediately necessary for its purposes.  If the park or facilities are operated by someone other than the district, the operator shall indemnify and hold the district harmless for any injury or damage caused by his or her actions.

A water district may charge for providing water service to an intermittent or transient customer that is connected to its facilities regardless of the amount of water, if any, that is used.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97   0

Senate 47   1    (Senate amended)

House  94   0    (House concurred)

Effective:    July 28, 1991