SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SSB 5313

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 23, 1993

Brief Description:  Deleting the expiration date for a portion of the surcharge on recording documents.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Loveland, Winsley, Oke, Haugen, Sheldon, Owen, Quigley and Erwin)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5313 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

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

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: February 5, 1993; February 10, 1993

BACKGROUND:

One of many initiatives undertaken as part of the state's centennial celebration was a program adopted in 1989 to assist county auditors in restoring and preserving historic documents.  Many of these records are unique, and some are deteriorating rapidly.

To support the costs of the program, a special surcharge of $2 is required for recording each document.  Half of the proceeds from the surcharge remains with the county, and the other half is transmitted to a special account in the state treasury.  Distribution from the special account is as follows: half is shared equally among the 39 counties; the other half is apportioned by county population.

The portion of the surcharge which is redistributed by the State Treasurer is scheduled to expire on January 1, 1995, and the surcharge will be reduced to $1.  It has been suggested that these funds are still needed by the counties for restoration and preservation of historic records.

SUMMARY:

The expiration date for the dollar surcharge to be distributed by the State Treasurer, and the reduction of the surcharge to $1 are deleted.  The proceeds from the surcharges must be used for ongoing preservation of historical documents of all county offices and departments.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is a priority request of the County Auditors Association.  There have been a few situations in which the funds have not been used for preserving documents of all the county offices.  We have been working on language that would accomplish that purpose.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Karen Flynn, Kitsap County Auditor; Gary Zandel, Lewis County Auditor; Sam Reed, Thurston County Auditor