SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6203

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Natural Resources, Energy & Water, January 28, 2004

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

Brief Description: Providing for flood control zone district administration.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit, Swecker, Rasmussen, Morton and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Energy & Water: 1/21/04, 1/28/04 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6203 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: A flood control zone district (zone) is a special district that may be created by a county to undertake flood control or storm water projects that benefit specific areas of the county. A zone is a quasi municipal corporation, an independent taxing authority, and a taxing district. The board of county commissioners are the zone's supervisors, and the county engineer is its administrator. In 2003, zones with more than 2,000 residents were authorized to elect their own supervisors and election procedures were established, but the authorizing legislation did not specifically address compensation of elected supervisors or administration of a zone that has elected supervisors.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Zone administration remains in the county engineer, unless the elected supervisors provide otherwise, and express authority to do so is granted. Specific provisions for compensation of elected supervisors are adopted. The act takes effect immediately.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The manner in which elected supervisors provide for adminstration is specified, and express authority is granted. Provisions for compensation are added. 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: Flood control zone districts with elected supervisors were intended to be self-governing and need the authority to be able to make changes. All other special districts have authority to compensate the governing body.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Doumit, prime sponsor; Jeff Rasmussen, Cowlitz County Commissioner (pro); Don MacDonald, Lexington Flood Control Zone District Chairman (pro).