BILL REQ. #:  S-0769.1 

Read first time 01/19/09.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to the issuance of checks by joint operating agencies and public utility districts; and amending RCW 43.52.375 and 54.24.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.52.375 and 1982 1st ex.s. c 43 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board of each joint operating agency shall by resolution appoint a treasurer. The treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the operating agency, who shall report at least annually to the board a detailed statement of the financial condition of the operating agency and of its financial operations for the preceding fiscal year. The treasurer shall advise the board on all matters affecting the financial condition of the operating agency. Before entering upon his or her duties the treasurer shall give bond to the operating agency, with a surety company authorized to write such bonds in this state as surety, in an amount which the board finds by resolution will protect the operating agency against loss, conditioned that all funds which he or she receives as such treasurer will be faithfully kept and accounted for and for the faithful discharge of his or her duties. The amount of such bond may be decreased or increased from time to time as the board may by resolution direct.
     (2) The board shall also appoint an auditor and may require him or her to give a bond with a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Washington in such amount as it shall by resolution prescribe, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his or her duties. The auditor shall report directly to the board and be responsible to it for discharging his or her duties.
     (3) The premiums on the bonds of the auditor and the treasurer shall be paid by the operating agency. The board may provide for coverage of said officers and other persons on the same bond.
     (4) All funds of the joint operating agency shall be paid to the treasurer and shall be disbursed by ((him)) the treasurer only on checks or warrants issued by the auditor upon orders or vouchers approved by the board: PROVIDED, That the board by resolution may authorize the managing director or any other bonded officer or employee as legally permissible to approve or disapprove vouchers presented to defray salaries of employees and other expenses of the operating agency arising in the usual and ordinary course of its business, including expenses incurred by the board of directors, its executive committee, or the executive board in the performance of their duties. All moneys of the operating agency shall be deposited forthwith by the treasurer in such depositaries, and with such securities as are designated by rules of the board. The treasurer shall establish a general fund and such special funds as shall be created by the board, into which he or she shall place all money of the joint operating agency as the board by resolution or motion may direct.
     (5) The board may adopt a policy for the payment of claims or other obligations of the operating agency, which are payable out of solvent funds, and may elect to pay such obligations by check or warrant. However, if the applicable fund is not solvent at the time payment is ordered, then no check may be issued and payment shall be by warrant. When checks are to be used, the board shall designate the qualified public depositary upon which the checks are to be drawn as well as the officers required or authorized to sign the checks. For the purposes of this chapter, "warrant" includes checks where authorized by this subsection.

Sec. 2   RCW 54.24.010 and 1999 c 18 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The treasurer of the county in which a utility district is located shall be ex officio treasurer of the district: PROVIDED, That the commission by resolution may designate some other person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the utility district. The commission may require a bond, with a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Washington, in an amount and under the terms and conditions which the commission by resolution from time to time finds will protect the district against loss. The premium on any such bond shall be paid by the district.
     (2) All district funds shall be paid to the treasurer and shall be disbursed by him or her only on warrants issued by an auditor appointed by the commission, upon orders or vouchers approved by it. The treasurer shall establish a public utility district fund, into which shall be paid all district funds, and he or she shall maintain such special funds as may be created by the commission, into which he or she shall place all money as the commission may, by resolution, direct.
     (3) If the treasurer of the district is the treasurer of the county all district funds shall be deposited with the county depositaries under the same restrictions, contracts, and security as provided for county depositaries; if the treasurer of the district is some other person, all funds shall be deposited in such bank or banks authorized to do business in this state as the commission by resolution shall designate, and with surety bond to the district or securities in lieu thereof of the kind, no less in amount, as provided in RCW 36.48.020 for deposit of county funds.
     (4) Such surety bond or securities in lieu thereof shall be filed or deposited with the treasurer of the district, and approved by resolution of the commission.
     (5) All interest collected on district funds shall belong to the district and be deposited to its credit in the proper district funds.
     (6) A district may provide and require a reasonable bond of any other person handling moneys or securities of the district: PROVIDED, That the district pays the premium thereon.
     (7) The commission may adopt a policy for the payment of claims or other obligations of the utility district, which are payable out of solvent funds, and may elect to pay such obligations by check or warrant. However, if the applicable fund is not solvent at the time payment is ordered, then no check may be issued and payment shall be by warrant. When checks are to be used, the commission shall designate the qualified public depositary upon which the checks are to be drawn as well as the officers required or authorized to sign the checks. For the purposes of this chapter, "warrant" includes checks where authorized by this subsection.