SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5477

As Passed Senate, March 16, 2003

Title: An act relating to delivery of endorsements by recording officers.

Brief Description: Requiring the delivery of endorsements by recording officers.

Sponsors: Senators Shin, Winsley and Schmidt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/19/03, 2/26/03 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/16/03, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kastama, McCaslin and Reardon.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: Current law requires a county auditor, upon request, to deliver or transmit electronically an endorsed instrument of writing required or permitted by law to be recorded, to the party leaving the document for recording or to the address on the face of the document.

Summary of Bill: The recording officer must electronically transmit a document to the party leaving it to be recorded, or deliver it to the address on the face of the document.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This bill will clarify the auditor's responsibility as to returning endorsed documents.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish Co. Auditor (pro).

House Amendment(s): Clarifies that the recording officer must either electronically transmit the document or deliver the document to the party leaving it for recording or to the address on the face of the document.