SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1420

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture, April 1, 2003

Title: An act relating to drainage facilities.

Brief Description: Allowing special districts to provide drainage ditches and tide gates.

Sponsors: Representatives Quall, Schoesler, Eickmeyer, Sump, Grant, Kristiansen, Hunt, Blake, McDermott, Hatfield, Sehlin, Bailey and Linville.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture: 4/1/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Swecker, Chair; Brandland, Vice Chair; Jacobsen and Rasmussen.

Staff: Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background: The following group of special purpose districts are collectively referred to by statute as being "special districts:" diking districts; drainage districts; diking, drainage, and/or sewerage improvement districts; inter-county diking and drainage districts; diking, drainage, diking improvement and/or drainage improvement districts; and flood control districts.

Such a special district may investigate, plan, construct, acquire, repair, maintain, and operate improvements, works, projects, and facilities necessary to prevent inundation or flooding from rivers, streams, tidal waters or other waters; or necessary to control and treat storm water, surface water, and flood water.

Summary of Bill: The facilities that such a special district may investigate, plan, construct, acquire, repair, maintain, and operate expressly include drainage ditches, tide gates, and flood gates.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This bill provides clarification that "other works" diking and drainage districts operate and maintain include tide gates, flood gates and drainage ditches.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Lyle Wesen; Curtis Johnson, Skagit County Farmland Legacy Pgm; John Roozen, Washington Bulb Co. Inc.; Mike Shelby, Western Washington Agricultural Assn.