H-0671.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1634

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives D. Schmidt, Scott, Dunshee, Dunn and Ogden

Read first time 02/04/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Providing for forms of payment by local governments.

    AN ACT Relating to local government financial obligations; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.01 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 53.36 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

    A city or town, by ordinance, may adopt a policy for the payment of claims or other obligations of the city or town, which are payable out of solvent funds, electing either to pay the obligations by warrant or to pay the obligations by check or electronic draft.  However, no check or electronic draft may be issued when the applicable fund is not solvent at the time payment is ordered, but a warrant shall be issued therefor.  When checks or electronic drafts are to be used, the legislative body shall designate the qualified public depositary whereon the checks or electronic drafts are to be drawn, and the officers authorized or required to sign the checks or authorize the electronic drafts when not otherwise specified by law.  Wherever in this title reference is made to warrants, the term includes checks or electronic drafts where authorized by this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 36.01 RCW to read as follows:

    A county, by ordinance or resolution, may adopt a policy for the payment of claims or other obligations of the county, which are payable out of solvent funds, electing either to pay the obligations by warrant or to pay the obligations by check or electronic draft.  However, no check or electronic draft may be issued when the applicable fund is not solvent at the time payment is ordered, but a warrant shall be issued therefor.  When checks or electronic drafts are to be used, the legislative body shall designate the qualified public depositary whereon the checks or electronic drafts are to be drawn, and the officers authorized or required to sign the checks or authorize the electronic drafts when not otherwise specified by law.  Wherever in this title reference is made to warrants, the term includes checks or electronic drafts where authorized by this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 53.36 RCW to read as follows:

    A port district, by resolution, may adopt a policy for the payment of claims or other obligations of the district, which are payable out of solvent funds, electing either to pay the obligations by warrant or to pay the obligations by check or electronic draft.  However, no check or electronic draft may be issued when the applicable fund is not solvent at the time payment is ordered, but a warrant shall be issued therefor.  When checks or electronic drafts are to be used, the legislative body shall designate the qualified public depositary whereon the checks or electronic drafts are to be drawn, and the officers authorized or required to sign the checks or authorize the electronic drafts when not otherwise specified by law.  Wherever in this title reference is made to warrants, the term includes checks or electronic drafts where authorized by this section.

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