FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6718

                          C 245 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Funding local government archives and records management.

Sponsors:  Senators Sutherland, McDonald, Finkbeiner, Winsley, Haugen and Hochstatter; by request of State Archivist.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Finance

Background:  The Secretary of State, through the Division of Archives and Records Management, provides for the preservation and storage of the official records of state agencies and 1,200 local government entities through a system of central archives and five regional branches.  The division is funded through revolving fund charges assessed against state agencies based on the size of each agency (FTE's) and the volume of records generated.

In the 1993 biennial budget act, the Legislature directed the Secretary of State to assess archives charges against local governments to cover the cost of archive services being provided to the local governments.  In 1994, the Legislature imposed a $20 surcharge on the filing of unpaid tax warrants in superior court.  The revenue from this surcharge was intended to provide local governments with sufficient funds to pay the cost of local archive services.  However, the revenue produced by the surcharge was only 37 percent of the anticipated funds, creating a shortfall of approximately $200,000.

Summary:  County auditors are directed to impose a $1 surcharge on each document filed with the auditor.  This surcharge is transmitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Archives and Records Management Account and may be used solely for local government archives and records services.  The surcharge expires on June 30, 2001, and is subject to review prior to expiration.

The surcharge on the filing of unpaid tax warrants is continued, with the proceeds dedicated to local government records services, including disaster recovery, essential records protection services, and records management training.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    41 6

House     85 12 (House amended)

Senate    42 3 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1996