HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2414
As Amended by the Senate
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.
Senate Amended.
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.
EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The amendment clarifies that the names and legal description in the recording instrument itself will determine the legal claim of title.
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.