HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6254

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to funeral or burial expenses of indigent persons.

Brief Description:  Authorizing counties to file claims against escheat property for funeral or burial expenses of indigent persons.

Sponsors:  Senators Fraser, Loveland, M. Rasmussen and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, February 24, 1994, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Springer, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dunshee; R. Fisher; Horn; Moak; Rayburn; Van Luven and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  The county legislative authority must provide for the disposition of the remains of an indigent person  when the body is unclaimed by relatives or a church organization.  The county has no right to recover its costs from property of the decedent which may transfer to the state because no heirs exist.

Summary of Bill:  The county legislative authority may file a claim for funeral or burial expenses the county is required to incur against any property of a decedent which reverts to the state.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill will enable counties to recover some of the cost of burying indigent persons.  The Department of Social and Health Services no longer assists in this and the burden has fallen onto the counties.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties.