Title: An act relating to the disbursement of funds by air pollution control agencies.

Brief Description: Modifying the disbursement of funds by air pollution control agencies.

Sponsors: Representatives Alexander, Simpson, Schindler and Holmquist.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/08/05, 94-0; 2/8/06, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Water, Energy & Environment: 3/22/05, 3/23/05, 2/16/06, 2/21/06 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Poulsen, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Morton, Ranking Minority Member; Delvin, Fraser, Honeyford, Mulliken, Pridemore and Regala.

Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)

Background: Local air pollution control authorities (authorities) are established by the Washington Clean Air Act. The authorities are responsible for carrying out specified duties and powers relating to air quality. Each county has an authority created within it; however, some county authorities are inactive. Counties with inactive authorities are served by the Department of Ecology. Seven multi-county authorities have been formed by county boards of commissioners by combining county authorities with adjacent county's authorities. Each authority is governed by a board of directors (board).

The treasurer of each component city, town, or county within an authority must create a separate fund for monies collected for the activated authorities. These monies must be forwarded to the treasurer of the county designated by the board. The designated treasurer must establish and maintain these funds as authorized by the board. Money must be disbursed upon warrants drawn by a board-designated county auditor. The respective county must be reimbursed for the services rendered by their treasurer and auditor.

Summary of Amended Bill: Monies collected for an air pollution control authority may be disbursed upon warrants drawn by an authority or designated county auditor. If an authority chooses to use a county auditor for the disbursement of funds, the county continues to be reimbursed for the service. Requires an authority that handles its own funds to submit a certified monthly statement of accounting. The statement is prepared by the financial officer, who may not be the executive director. Additionally, a number of technical changes are made.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: Removes the provision requiring the air boards to pay the country treasurers for services rendered in holding funds. Requires an authority that handles its own funds submit a certified monthly statement of accounting prepared by the financial officer. The financial officer may not be the executive director.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This bill will allow clean air agencies with sufficient internal resources and abilities to process their own warrants without using county auditors.

Testimony Against: We have no concerns with the overall objective of the bill, which is to give air pollution control agencies the option to issue their own warrants. Our association does have concerns with the proposed change that says the air pollution control agency would pay the county treasurer for receiving money. None of the districts for which we are the treasurer pay a fee to deposit their cash with us. We do not see a reason why we would treat the air pollution agency in a different fashion from all other districts.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Gary Alexander, prime sponsor.

Signed in, Unable to Testify, Submitted Written Testimony: CON: Robin Hunt, Washington State Association of County Treasurers.