SENATE BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 5110

                AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 9, 1993

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to sewer and water districts.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Drew and Winsley)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5110 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, Oke, Owen, and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1993; February 10, 1993

BACKGROUND:

When considering competitive bids for contracts for work and material, water districts and sewer districts may reject bids that are "unsatisfactory."  It is not clear that this standard would include consideration of the past performance record of a contractor or changed circumstances since the advertisement for bids.

Water districts and sewer districts do not have authority to solicit voluntary contributions from their customers to assist indigent customers.  Public utility districts do have this authority.

SUMMARY:

Water districts and sewer districts may reject bids "for good cause."

Sewer and water districts may solicit voluntary contributions from customers to be paid with regular billing to assist indigent customers.

Archaic terminology is corrected and gender inclusive terms are added.

Appropriation:  none 

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill clarifies ambiguous language regarding the scope of eminent domain powers and regarding the basis for rejecting competitive bids for contracts.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Joe Daniels, Washington Association of Water/Wastewater Districts