SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5144

BYSenators 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)

                  January 27, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, JANUARY 26, 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receipts are retained by the county and deposited in the auditor's operation and maintenance fund for preserving historical documents.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.  After deducting administrative costs (not to exceed 1 percent) the State Treasurer distributes these monies 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  These funds are to be used exclusively for the purposes of preserving historical documents recorded or filed with the auditor.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 five years from the date of implementation.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

A separate account, the centennial document preservation and modernization account, is established within the state treasury for revenue from the surcharge.  Disbursements from the account require no appropriation by the Legislature.  Yearly distribution of funds to each county in the state is altered from July 1 to the month of July.  The reduction of the $2.00 surcharge to $1.00 will occur September 1, 1994.  The same date applies to the expiration of the state collection and disbursement program.

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)