SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1395

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                         APRIL 1, 1993

Brief Description:  Allowing counties to impose additional marriage license fees for funding family services.

SPONSORS: Representatives Scott, Long, G. Cole, Riley, Johanson, Leonard, Ogden, King and Locke

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON REVENUE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Erwin, Franklin, Hargrove, McAuliffe, McDonald, Moyer, and Niemi.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Hearing Dates: April 1, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Currently the fees for processing applications for marriage licenses are established by law.  The basic fee is $8, plus an additional fee of $5 for use and support for the prevention of child abuse and neglect activities, expiring June 30, 1995, plus an additional $10 fee for the purposes of the Displaced Homemaker Act.  Counties may also charge $8 for funding the family court.

The counties have no authority to add an additional fee to a marriage license for the purpose of funding family services.

SUMMARY:

County legislative authorities may establish an additional fee for a marriage license, not exceeding $15, to fund family services, such as family support centers.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Counties should have the ability to raise additional revenue to find needed family support services.  This bill would provide a secure financial base for the family service supporters.  We need to involve the community in the funding of these services.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Roseann Martinez, United Way of Snohomish County; Carolyn Eslick, Lorrie Milford, Sky Valley Com. Resource Center; Mary Ellen O'Keefe, Family Resource Coalition of WA; Robbie Rohr, Deaconess Children's Services