S-1604.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5370

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Hale, Winsley, Haugen and Wood)

Read first time 02/22/95.

Authorizing use of credit cards by local governments.

     AN ACT Relating to the use of credit cards by local governments; amending RCW 42.24.115; adding a new section to chapter 39.58 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that (1) the use of credit cards is a customary and economical business practice to improve cash management, reduce costs, and increase efficiency; and (2) local governments should consider and use credit cards when appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 39.58 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) Local governments, including counties, cities, towns, special purpose districts, municipal and quasi-municipal corporations, and political subdivisions, are authorized to use credit cards for official government purchases and acquisitions.

     (2) A local government may contract for issuance of the credit cards.

     (3) The legislative body shall adopt a system for:

     (a) The distribution of the credit cards;

     (b) The authorization and control of the use of credit card funds;

     (c) The credit limits available on the credit cards;

     (d) Payment of the bills; and

     (e) Any other rule necessary to implement or administer the system under this section.

     (4) As used in this section, "credit card" means a card or device issued under an arrangement pursuant to which the issuer gives to a card holder the privilege of obtaining credit from the issuer.

     (5) Any credit card system adopted under this section is subject to examination by the state auditor's office pursuant to chapter 43.09 RCW.

     (6) Cash advances on credit cards are prohibited.

     Sec. 3.  RCW 42.24.115 and 1984 c 203 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) Any municipal corporation or political subdivision may provide for the issuance of charge cards to officers and employees for the ((sole)) purpose of covering expenses incident to authorized travel.

     (2) If a charge card is issued for the purpose of covering expenses relating to authorized travel, upon billing or no later than ((ten)) thirty days of the billing date, the officer or employee using a charge card issued under this section shall submit a fully itemized travel expense voucher.  Any charges against the charge card not properly identified on the travel expense voucher or not allowed following the audit required under RCW 42.24.080 shall be paid by the official or employee by check, United States currency, or salary deduction.

     (3) If, for any reason, disallowed charges are not repaid before the charge card billing is due and payable, the municipal corporation or political subdivision shall have a prior lien against and a right to withhold any and all funds payable or to become payable to the official or employee up to an amount of the disallowed charges and interest at the same rate as charged by the company which issued the charge card.  Any official or employee who has been issued a charge card by a municipal corporation or political subdivision shall not use the card if any disallowed charges are outstanding and shall surrender the card upon demand of the auditing officer.  The municipal corporation or political subdivision shall have unlimited authority to revoke use of any charge card issued under this section, and, upon such revocation order being delivered to the charge card company, shall not be liable for any costs.

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