HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1395

                       As Passed House

                       March 11, 1993

Title:  An act relating to marriage license fees for funding family services.

Brief Description:  Allowing counties to impose additional marriage license fees for funding family services.

Sponsors:  Representatives Scott, Long, G. Cole, Riley, Johanson, Leonard, Ogden, King and Locke.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 17, 1993, DP;

Revenue, March 8, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, March 11, 1993, 75-23.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brown; Karahalios; Patterson; Thibaudeau; and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk; and Padden.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON REVENUE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives G. Fisher, Chair; Holm, Vice Chair; Foreman, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Brown; Cothern; Morris; Romero; Rust; Silver; Talcott; Thibaudeau; and Wang.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member and Van Luven.

Staff:  Rick Peterson (786-7150).

Background:  Currently the fees for processing applications for marriage licenses are established by law. The basic fee is $8, plus an additional fee of $5 for use and support for the prevention of child abuse and neglect activities, expiring June 30, 1995, plus an additional $10 fee for the purposes of the Displaced Homemaker Act. Counties may also charge $8 for funding the family court.

However, there is no authority granted to county legislative authorities to add an additional fee to a marriage license for the purpose of funding family services.

Summary of Bill:  County legislative authorities may establish an additional fee for a marriage license, not exceeding $15, to fund family services, such as family support centers.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (Human Services) Counties should have the ability to raise additional revenue to find needed family support services.

(Revenue) This bill would provide a secure financial base for the family service supporters.  We need to involve the community in the funding of these services; this bill would accomplish that.

Testimony Against:  (Human Services) None.

(Revenue) None.

Witnesses:  (Human Services) Dianne Shiver, Family Support Center; Liz McLaughlin, Snohomish County Council; Robbie Rohr, Family Support Center; and Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society.

(Revenue) Roseann Martinez, United Way of Snohomish County; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Ed Larson, Snohomish County; and Kurt Sherar, Washington State Association of Counties.