HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6248
As Passed House - Amended:
February 28, 2006
Title: An act relating to drainage and diking works.
Brief Description: Requiring the department of transportation to reimburse drainage and diking districts for maintenance and repairs to drainage facilities if the department does not respond to written notice by the districts.
Sponsors: By Senators Haugen, Benson, Shin and Sheldon.
Brief History:
Transportation: 2/20/06, 2/22/06 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House - Amended: 2/28/06, 97-0.
Brief Summary of Bill (As Amended by House) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Buck, Campbell, Clibborn, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Flannigan, Hankins, Holmquist, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Simpson.
Staff: Beth Redfield (786-7347).
Background:
Drainage and diking districts exist around the state as taxing districts and oversight bodies
which create, maintain, and manage specific areas that include significant drainage or dike
infrastructures. Drainage facilities include dikes, dams, ditches, drains, and outlets.
Individual drainage facilities need to be maintained to help ensure viability of the entire
drainage system, and those adjacent to roads help protect roads from flooding and other
damage.
Under current law, any drainage facilities that are located on land under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Transportation (DOT) are required to be maintained by DOT.
Summary of Amended Bill:
If the commissioners of any drainage or diking district determine that repair or maintenance
is required on a drainage facility under the jurisdiction of the DOT, they may send a written
notice to DOT requesting that the repair or maintenance be completed. If the specified repair
or maintenance is not conducted within 14 days of DOT receiving the notice, the district
commissioners may independently make the repair or complete the maintenance.
The DOT must reimburse the district for all reasonable costs incurred by the district
associated with the repair or maintenance.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session
in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The Skagit Valley is a fragile system. It is important to keep the drainage systems running for the tulip displays. Only a few inches of silt can cause large problems. This bill will allow ditches to be cleaned in a timely manner.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Haugen, prime sponsor.