SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5144

BYSenate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen and DeJarnatt)

Preserving documents recorded with the county auditors.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 26, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5144 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Pullen, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Desley Brooks (786-7443); Sam Thompson (786-7754)

                  April 13, 1989

House Committe on Local Government

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 13, 1989

BACKGROUND:

County auditor offices are the repositories of many public records and other documents.  Many historic documents recorded or filed with county auditors are deteriorating due to age and environmental degradation.  It has been suggested that these documents should be preserved.

SUMMARY:

County auditors are authorized to install and maintain improved systems to copy, preserve, and index recorded documents (including photomicrographics and computerized digital storage).

A surcharge of $2.00 per instrument recorded with the county auditor is imposed for modernizing and improving the document recording and indexing system.  Fifty percent of the surcharge receipts are retained by the county and deposited in the auditor's operation and maintenance fund for preserving historical documents.  The other 50 percent is transmitted monthly to the State Treasurer to be placed in the "centennial document preservation and modernization account."  After deducting administrative costs (not to exceed 1 percent) the State Treasurer distributes these monies on a yearly basis to the counties as follows: (1) half of the monies are distributed equally among the counties; and (2) the balance is distributed to counties in direct proportion to their populations.  The monies received by a county from the State Treasurer must be placed into a new account entitled the "auditor's centennial document preservation and modernization account."  These funds are to be used exclusively for the purposes of preserving historical documents recorded or filed with the auditor.  One dollar of the surcharge will expire September 1, 1994.  The state collection and disbursement program expires on the same date.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 17, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: Darlene DeRozier, Cowlitz County Auditor (pro); Jane Hague, King County Department of Records and Elections (pro); Dean Williams, Snohomish County Auditor (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

Various clarifying changes are made.  The county auditor is authorized to preserve all documents held by the county, not just those documents retained by the auditor.  Language is made clear that only one $2 surcharge is assessed.