FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6740

C 53 L 02

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing irrigation districts to accept various methods of payment.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Swecker, Shin and Parlette.

Senate Committee on Agriculture & International Trade

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

Background:  The county treasurer of the county in which the office of an irrigation district is located often also serves as the treasurer of the irrigation district.  However, within certain limitations, instead of using the county treasurer an irrigation district may choose another person with experience in financial or fiscal matters to serve as the treasurer of the district.

Currently, a county treasurer may accept credit cards, debit cards, and other electronic forms of payment for any payment due the county.  A person desiring to pay taxes or payments related to taxes by electronic means bears the cost of processing the transaction in an amount determined by the treasurer.

Irrigation districts have not been given the statutory authority to accept credit cards, debit cards, and other electronic forms of payment.

Summary:  Irrigation districts that have designated their own treasurers may accept credit cards, debit cards, and other methods of payment as specified for payment of any kind, including but not limited to assessments, fines, fees and rates.

A customer who wishes to pay by credit card, debit card, or other approved electronic method bears the cost of the transaction processing fee unless the board of directors of the irrigation district determines that it is in the best interests of the district to assume the cost of the transaction fees for a limited category of nonassessment payments.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate470

House970

Effective:  June 13, 2002