HB 2309 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

Finds that the fees associated with various actions of the department of ecology relating to the processing and administration of water rights are outdated and are insufficient even to recover the cost of handling the funds submitted. Additionally, water right processing fees are currently collected at three different stages of the water rights process, whereas reducing the number of instances of fee collection to two stages of the process would increase efficiency and reduce administrative costs. Furthermore, several current statutory fees are archaic or are otherwise covered by other general statutes, including the public disclosure act.

Declares an intent to update and modernize the fee schedule associated with water right-related actions of the department of ecology.