SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2169

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, February 25, 2002

Title:  An act relating to fire districts' options for issuing warrants.

Brief Description:  Issuing warrants by fire districts.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Local Government & Housing (originally sponsored by Representative Alexander).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/20/02, 2/25/02 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, Kline, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Background:  It is the duty of the county treasurer to receive and disburse the funds of the fire protection district located in the county.  Disbursal of funds is by the county treasurer on warrants issued by the county auditor against the fire protection district's funds.

If the fire protection district has for three preceding years had an annual operating budget of $5 million or more, the district has the option of issuing its own warrants through the county treasurer and district secretary.

Summary of Amended Bill:  For fire protection districts with annual operating budgets between $1 million and $5 million in each of the preceding three years, the county treasurer and the fire protection district commission can agree that the district issue its own warrants through the county treasurer and district secretary.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The amended bill adds the $1 million minimum above which the option to pay funds by check is permitted.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  (Concerns)  There is a serious concern about dropping this authority down to zero.  Small fire protection districts might want to issue their own warrants on typed or handwritten hard copy.  Some fire protection districts are mom and pop operations unable to cope with the electronic warrant payment system now in use by the county auditors, schools and county treasurers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rose Bowman, WSACT, Lewis County Treasurer (mostly neutral); Ron Strabbing, WSACT, Grays Harbor Treasurer.