SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2297

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 23, 1998

Title:  An act relating to recording documents.

Brief Description:  Recording documents.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Sehlin and Hankins).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/23/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Haugen, Horn, Patterson and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The county auditor is the recorder of Adeeds and other instruments@ that are required to be filed with the county.

Legislation was enacted in 1996 establishing requirements for instruments that are filed with county auditors, including margin requirements and matters that must be included on the first page of the instrument.  A cover sheet also must be filed if some, but not all, of these items are not included on the first page of the instrument.

The following matters that must be included on the first page of the instrument or cover sheet are: (1) the title or titles of the document; (2) reference numbers of documents assigned or released with reference to the document page number where additional references may be found; (3) the names of the grantors and grantees with reference to the document page number where additional names are included, if applicable; and (4) an abbreviated legal description of the property, if applicable.

The assessor=s property tax parcel or account number also must be included on the first page of the document, but no express provision is made for including this number on the cover sheet.

Summary of Bill:  An instrument may be recorded with the county auditor if a minor portion of a notary seal, incidental writing, or minor portion of a signature extends beyond the margin requirements.

It is clarified that the use of the terms "grantor" and "grantee," for purposes of requirements relating to filing instruments with the county auditor, means the names of the parties involved in the transactions used to create the recording index.

The cover sheet for an instrument that is filed with a county auditor may include the assessor=s tax parcel or account number.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  We have had to reject a number of documents for very minor encroachments on the margin.  This is especially frustrating when documents from out of state must be returned.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Val Wood, King County Recorder=s office (pro).