H-1122              _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 929

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Haugen, L. Smith, Allen and Nutley

Read first time 2/16/87 and referred to Committee on Local Government.

AN ACT Relating to sewer connections; amending RCW 35.92.025; adding a new section to chapter 35.92 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.94 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 54.16 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 35.92 RCW to read as follows:

          A city or town may compel all property owners within an area served by the city or town system of sewers to connect their private drain and sewer systems with the city or town system under such penalty as the legislative body of the city or town prescribes by ordinance.  The city or town may for such purpose enter upon private property and connect the private drains or sewers with the city or town system and the cost thereof shall be charged against the property owner and shall be a lien upon property served.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 36.94 RCW to read as follows:

          A county may compel all property owners within an area served by the county system of sewers to connect their private drain and sewer systems with the county system under such penalty as the county legislative authority prescribes by resolution.  The county may for such purpose enter upon private property and connect the private drains or sewers with the county system and the cost thereof shall be charged against the property owner and shall be a lien upon property served.

         The county may allow any connection charges to be paid, with interest, in installments over a period not exceeding fifteen years.  The county treasurer may charge and collect a fee of three dollars per parcel for each year for the treasurer's services.  The fee shall be a charge to be included as part of each annual installment, and shall be credited to the county current expense fund by the county treasurer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 54.16 RCW to read as follows:

          A public utility district may compel all property owners within an area served by the district system of sewers to connect their private drain and sewer systems with the district system under such penalty as the commissioners prescribe by resolution.  The district may for such purpose enter upon private property and connect the private drains or sewers with the district system and the cost thereof shall be charged against the property owner and shall be a lien upon property served.

         The public utility district may allow any connection charges to be paid, with interest, in installments over a period not exceeding fifteen years.  If the connection charge is collected by the county treasurer, the county treasurer may charge and collect a fee of three dollars per parcel for each year for the treasurer's services.  The fee shall be a charge to be included as part of each annual installment, and shall be credited to the county current expense fund by the county treasurer.

        Sec. 4.  Section 35.92.025, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 6, chapter 445, Laws of 1985 and RCW 35.92.025 are each amended to read as follows:

          Cities and towns are authorized to charge property owners either seeking or required to connect to the water or sewerage system of the city or town as a condition to granting the right to so connect, in addition to the cost of such connection, such reasonable connection charge as the legislative body of the city or town shall determine proper in order that such property owners shall bear their equitable share of the cost of such system.  The equitable share may include interest charges applied from the date of construction of the water or sewer system until the connection, or for a period not to exceed ten years, at a rate commensurate with the rate of interest applicable to the city or town at the time of construction or major rehabilitation of the water or sewer system, or at the time of installation of the water or sewer lines to which the property owner is ((seeking to connect)) connecting but not to exceed ten percent per year:  PROVIDED, That the aggregate amount of interest shall not exceed the equitable share of the cost of the system allocated to such property owners.  Connection charges collected shall be considered revenue of such system.

The city or town may allow the connection charge to be paid, with interest, in installments over a period not exceeding fifteen years.  If the connection charge is collected by the county treasurer, the county treasurer may charge and collect a fee of three dollars per parcel for each year for the treasurer's services.  The fee shall be a charge to be included as part of each annual installment, and shall be credited to the county current expense fund by the county treasurer.