HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5770

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

April 15, 2013

Title: An act relating to conservation district electronic deposit of employee pay and compensation.

Brief Description: Permitting conservation districts to use electronic deposits for employee pay and compensation.

Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, Hatfield and Hobbs.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Local Government: 3/26/13, 3/28/13 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/15/13, 97-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

Authorizes conservation districts to, on their own initiative, deposit salaries, wages, and other approved financial reimbursements of employees and contractors in the financial institutions of the employees and contractors.
Exempts conservation districts from a provision that prohibits state offices or political subdivisions of the state from paying employee salaries or wages directly to the financial institutions of their employees unless 25 or more employees have requested, in writing, to receive compensation in this manner.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Takko, Chair; Taylor, Ranking Minority Member; Kochmar, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buys, Liias, Springer and Upthegrove.

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

Conservation Districts.

Conservation districts may be organized in conformity with statutory requirements as governmental subdivisions of the state in incorporated or unincorporated areas. Each of Washington's 45 conservation districts are governed by five-member boards of supervisors and are granted specific powers prescribed in statute, including the authority to:

conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the conservation of renewable natural resources, a term defined in statute to include land, air, water, vegetation, wildlife, and other natural resources;
implement preventative and control measures and works of improvement for the conservation of renewable natural resources on lands within the district; and
prepare and keep current comprehensive long-range programs recommending the conservation of the renewable natural resources of the district.

Direct Deposit of Salaries and Wages.

State offices or political subdivisions of the state, including municipal corporations and quasi municipal corporations, may not pay salaries or wages directly to the financial institutions of their employees unless at least 25 of their employees have requested, in writing, to receive compensation in this manner.

Summary of Bill:

Conservation districts may, on their own initiative, pay employees and contractors by direct depositing their salaries, wages, or other approved financial reimbursements in the financial institutions of the employees and contractors. Conservation districts are exempted from a provision prohibiting state offices or political subdivisions of the state from paying employee salaries or wages directly to the financial institutions of their employees unless 25 or more of their employees have requested, in writing, to receive compensation in this manner.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a good little bill that is the result of concerns raised by the State Auditor's Office. No conservation district has a staff of 25 employees. This bill will allow conservation districts to use direct deposits for their employees. This bill is an efficiency measure for conservation districts.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Ron Shultz, Washington State Conservation Commission.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.