SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2841

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Natural Resources, Energy & Water, February 19, 2004

Title: An act relating to administering flood control zone districts.

Brief Description: Providing for flood control zone district administration.

Sponsors: Representatives Blake, Hatfield, Schindler and Romero.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Energy & Water: 2/19/04 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Doumit, Fraser, Hale, Honeyford, Oke and Regala.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: A flood control zone district (zone) is a special district that can be created by a

county for flood control or storm water projects that benefit a specific area. A zone is a quasi- municipal corporation, an independent taxing authority, and a taxing district. The board of county commissioners governs the zone, and the county engineer is its administrator. In 2003, zones with more than 2,000 residents were authorized to elect their own supervisors. The authorizing legislation adopted procedures for electing the supervisors but did not address their compensation or the scope of their authority over zone administration.

Summary of Amended Bill: Zone administration remains with the county engineer, subject to the approval of any elected supervisors, who also receive express authority to change administration. The same compensation provisions are adopted for elected zone supervisors as apply to other special district governing boards in the state, with the exception of their initial compensation, which is set by the county commissioners. These provisions take effect immediately.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The scope of elected supervisors' authority over zone administration is specified. Provisions for compensation are adopted. An emergency clause is added.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: This authority needs to be granted for elected supervisors to be able to govern zones as intended.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Rep. Blake, prime sponsor; Jeff Rasmussen, Cowlitz County Commissioner.