SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6573

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Government Operations & Elections, February 3, 2004

Title: An act relating to presenting an instrument to a county auditor or recording officer for recording.

Brief Description: Presenting an instrument to a county auditor or recording officer for recording.

Sponsors: Senators Roach, Shin, Schmidt, Berkey, Brandland and Esser.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/3/04 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Berkey, Fairley, Horn and McCaslin.

Staff: Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background: It is the duty of the county auditor to record instruments properly presented to him or her. The instrument must be of certain exact sizes, format and margins. These instruments, commonly transfers of real property, wills, judgments and the like, once filed with the county auditor become public records.

Summary of Bill: Instruments presented to the county auditor for recording shall not include a social security number, date of birth identified with a particular person or the maiden name of a person's parent so as to be identified with a particular person.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Social Security numbers and other identifying data should not be part of the public record because this information is easily used for identity theft.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Kim Wyman, WA State Assn. of County Auditors (pro).