Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HB 1925

Brief Description:  Funding local records management.

Sponsors:  Representatives H. Sommers, Sehlin, Romero, Wood and Schindler; by request of Secretary of State.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Removes the sunset clause on a $1 surcharge that applies to documents filed with county auditors.

$Creates a competitive grants program for local governments for records management and archive projects.

Hearing Date:  2/19/01

Staff:  Linda Brooks (786‑7153).

Background: 

The Secretary of State, through the Division of Archives and Records Management, provides for the preservation and storage of the official records of state agencies and local governments.

Historical records of state government are collected, preserved, and made available at the archives' main Olympia office.  Historical records of local governments are collected, preserved, and made available at five regional branch archive facilities.  The regional branch archive facilities are located in Bellevue, Bellingham, Cheney, Ellensburg, and Olympia.

Local Funding

Two revenue sources fund the Secretary of State's records management and archive services for local governments' records.   One revenue source is a $20 surcharge that applies to the filing of unpaid tax warrants in superior courts.   The other revenue source is a $1 surcharge that applies to each document filed with county auditors.   This $1 surcharge is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2001.

A committee of local government officials advises the Secretary of State on the local government archives and records management program.

Competitive Grants Program

The Secretary of State does not award grants on a competitive basis to local  governments for records management and archive projects.

Summary of Bill: 

Local Funding

The $1 surcharge on each document filed with the county auditor continues and is made permanent.

Competitive Grants Program

A competitive grants program is established for records management and archive projects.  Funding for the competitive grants program is to come from any surplus of revenues from the $20 tax warrant fee and the $1 surcharge fee that are used by the Secretary of State to pay for records management and archive services provided to local governments.

The grants are to be awarded to local governments.  The local government committee that advises the Secretary of State on the local government archives and records management program is responsible for reviewing and ranking grant applications.   Subject to the availability of funds, grants are awarded based on the prioritized ranking of applications.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2001.