SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5599

BYSenators Owen, Wojahn and Kreidler

Establishing receivership provisions for delinquent domestic water suppliers.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 25, 1987; March 2, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5599 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Stratton, Vice Chairman; Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Tanner.

Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)

                  March 4, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 9, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5599 as recommended by Committee on Human Services & Corrections be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Fleming, Kreidler, Lee, Moore, Owen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Saling, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Suzanne Petersen (786-7715)

                  March 10, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Numerous health and safety standards exist to regulate domestic water suppliers.  However the Department of Social and Health Services has limited enforcement powers in situations where the water suppliers repeatedly violate regulations or refuse to correct ongoing violations.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services may petition the superior court for appointment of a receiver to assume operation of water systems when an operator fails to correct a health and safety violation within ninety days after notice.  The appointed receiver has a duty to bring the water supply system into compliance with state and federal laws, and must conduct the ordinary business of the supply system, until the court dismisses the receiver.  A water supply system customer may bring an action against the Department or the supply system to initiate the receivership process.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Water purveyors with ten or fewer connections are exempt from receivership provisions.  The court is allowed to review rate revisions that result from costs of improvements made under the receivership.  Utilities and transportation regulations must be followed where applicable.  Technical changes provide for continuity in use of the term "water purveyor".  Statutory placement of the act is changed to correct a drafting error.

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS: Senator Brad Owen, Eric Slagle, DSHS Environmental Health Division; Linda Craig, Highland Estates Homeowners Association; Joe Daniels, Washington Association of Water and Wastewater

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one