Brief Description: Increasing the surcharge for the preservation of historical documents.

Sponsors: Representatives Dunshee, Romero, Haigh, Benson, Wood, Moeller and Sullivan.

Hearing Date: 2/13/03

Staff: Anne Warwick (786-7291).

Background:

The Legislature enacted the Centennial Document Preservation Act of 1989 to preserve historical documents before they are irreparably damaged. Many old documents recorded or filed with county auditors are deteriorating due to age and environmental degradation. The county auditors are authorized to impose a two dollar surcharge per document on the filing of any document with the county auditor to fund historical preservation of documents.

Half of this surcharge is retained by the county and deposited into the auditor's operation and maintenance fund to be used for the ongoing preservation of historical documents held by the auditor. The other half of this surcharge is transmitted to the State Treasurer who distributes these receipts monthly to counties under the following formula: (1) Half of these monies are distributed equally among the 39 counties; and (2) the other half is distributed to counties in direct proportion to their populations. The monies are placed into a special account titled the Auditor's Centennial Document Preservation and Modernization Account and are used for document preservation equipment and the preservation of historical documents in the possession of the county auditor.

Summary of Bill:

The two dollar surcharge per document for historical preservation is raised to a five dollar surcharge per document.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.