SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6160

              As Passed Senate, February 10, 1996

Title:  An act relating to the preparation of maps by county assessors for listing of real estate.

Brief Description:  Requiring the preparation of maps by county assessors for listing of real estate.

Sponsors:  Senators Loveland and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/17/96, 1/23/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/10/96, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Katie Healy (786-7403)

Background:  The county assessor is directed to list real property in a specific fashion.  The assessor gives each land tract a tax number, which is placed on the tax rolls.  The numbered property is described in the plat and description book.  There is then no need to enter a description of the numbered property on the tax rolls if the property is identified in the plat and description book, and the book is kept as a part of the tax collector's records.

County assessors prepare and maintain a complete set of maps of the properties, and the desire has been expressed that the statute reflect this practice.

Summary of Bill:  It is specified that as part of the assessor's duties the county assessor must also prepare and maintain a complete set of maps.  The maps indicate parcel configuration for county lands.  The assessor must continually update the maps to reflect any events which change any parcel's boundary.  The parcels are then renumbered to reflect combinations or divisions of parcels.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 17, 1996.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill clarifies that it is the assessor's job to do the maps.  In order to properly evaluate the property, there must be proper maps.  Kitsap County is the only county at present which has the mapping duties removed from the assessor's duties.  This bill will allow for a statewide centralized parcel-based map.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Carol Belas, Kitsap County Assessor (pro); Keith Willnauer, Whatcom County Assessor (pro).