HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2414

                      As Passed House:

                      February 5, 1996

Title:  An act relating to standardization of recorded documents.

Brief Description:  Standardizing the recording of documents.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Representatives D. Schmidt, Chopp and L. Thomas).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  1/23/96 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  2/5/96, 96-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Cairnes, Vice Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt and Wolfe.

Staff:  Scott White (786-7153).

Background:  County auditors and recording officers collect fees for their official services, including recording instruments, or preparing and certifying copies.

Summary of Bill:  The proposed legislation makes changes relating to the standardization of recorded documents.

Formatting and information requirements are established for documents filed with a county auditor or recording officer, including standards for size of paper, margins, titles, and reference numbers.

The cover sheet format for documents presented for recording that do not contain the needed information in the appropriate format is standardized.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on January 1, 1997.

Testimony For:  Over 400 types of documents are recorded with no standard format.  This would enhance the facilitation of electronic public access.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Dave Schmidt, prime sponsor; Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditor; and Diana Bradrick, Snohomish County Recording Manager.