SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5144

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Law & Justice, February 11, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the administration of county clerks' offices.

Brief Description:  Modifying numerous local government administrative requirements.

Sponsors:  Senator Roach.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  1/30/97, 2/11/97 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5144 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Johnson, Vice Chair; Fairley, Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Kline, Long, McCaslin, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Mal Murphy (786-7412)

Background:  Several current provisions relating to the administration of the county clerks= offices are confusing or unclear, contain archaic language, or incomplete citations to controlling statutory provisions.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Various technical clarifications or corrections are made to sections relating to the administration of the county clerks= offices.  No execution on a foreign judgment is allowed until ten days after the judgment is filed in the clerk=s office.  Jurisdiction to modify a judgment of the district court appealed to the superior court is clearly placed in the superior court.  Archaic language is eliminated and common usage adopted.  

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Language necessary to make the bill internally  consistent is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The bill clarifies and cleans up uncertainty in current law.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Debbie Wilke, WA Assoc. of County Officials; Pam Daniels, Snohomish County Clerk (pro).