HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 1853

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to nonprofit corporation fees.

Brief Description:  Increasing fees for nonprofit corporation filings.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Wang and Holland; by request of Office of Financial Management and Secretary of State.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Revenue, February 22, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 96-0;

Amended by Senate;

House concurred;

Passed Legislature, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

REVENUE

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Wang, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Holland, Ranking Minority Member; Wynne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Brumsickle; Day; Leonard; Morris; Morton; Rust; Silver; and Van Luven.

Staff:  Robin Appleford (786-7093).

Background:  The Secretary of State's office charges corporations fees to cover the cost of filing various documents.  Fees are charged for filing documents such as articles of incorporation, articles of merger or consolidation, and applications of foreign corporations for a certificate of authority to conduct business in the state.  Nonprofit corporation filing fees are lower than for-profit corporation fees, and range from $5 to $20 per document.

Summary of Bill:  Nonprofit corporation filing fees are increased.  The new fees range from $10 to $30 per document, depending on the type of document.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect July 1, 1991.

Testimony For:  The current fees do not cover the costs of processing documents for nonprofit corporations.  The increases will bring the fees more in line with the costs of processing documents.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Donald F. Whiting, Assistant Secretary of State; and Sharon Foster, YMCA's.