Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Local Government & Housing Committee

HB 2169

Brief Description:  Issuing warrants by fire districts.

Sponsors:  Representative Alexander.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes a fire district with an annual operating budget of under 5 million dollars in each of the last three years to issue its own warrants for payments of claims or obligations of the fire district.

Hearing Date:  January 14, 2002.

Staff:  Scott MacColl (786‑7106).

Background:

Fire District warrants are orders by which the drawer authorizes one person to pay a particular sum of money.  Fire district warrants are issued by the fire district secretary, who prepares and signs the vouchers, which are also signed and approved by a majority of the district board, and submits the vouchers to the county auditor.  The auditor issues the warrants, and then sends them to the county treasurer for payment.  Warrants are then paid by the county treasurer against proper funds of the district.

Fire districts that have had an annual operating budget of over 5 million for each of the last three years may adopt a policy to issue their own warrants for payments of claims or other obligations of the fire district.  The authority is predicated upon agreement between the county auditor and the fire district commission, and requires approval of the fire district commission by resolution.  The board, after auditing all payrolls and bills, issues one general certificate to the county treasurer, authorizing the county treasurer to pay all the warrants specified, and the fund from which payment is to be made.  The district secretary may then issued warrants specified in the general warrant.

Summary of Bill:

Fire districts that have had an annual operating budget of less than 5 million for each of the last three years are authorized to adopt a policy to issue their own warrants for payments of claims or other obligations of the fire district.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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