HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5111

                       As Passed House

                       April 10, 1997

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 Winsley and Loveland.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Finance:  4/1/97, 4/7/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  4/10/97, 98‑0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives B. Thomas, Chairman; Carrell, Vice Chairman; Mulliken, Vice Chairman; Dunshee, Ranking Minority Member; Dickerson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Butler; Conway; Kastama; Mason; Morris; Pennington; Schoesler; Thompson and Van Luven.

Staff:  Rick Peterson (786-7150).

Background:  Each year the county assessor lists and values all taxable real and personal property within the county.  The assessor also determines the boundaries of taxing districts and locates the taxable property within the taxing districts.  Assessors also provide the taxing district boundary information to the Department of Revenue so that the department can locate the assessed value of the centrally assessed utilities and the districts within the various counties.  Assessors maintain maps to comply with these requirements.

Summary of Bill:  The county assessor is required to prepare a complete set of maps indicating parcel configuration of lands within the county.  The maps must be continually updated to reflect transactions or events which change the boundaries of any parcel.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Current law does not give clear authority to the assessor to maintain a mapping system. The assessor=s office is the logical place to put this responsibility.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Winsley, prime sponsor; Gail Rauch, Snohomish County Assessor; and Darryl Cleveland, Mason County Assessor.