HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1510

                       As Passed House

                        March 8, 1993

Title:  An act relating to the use of charge cards by officers and employees of municipal corporations and political subdivisions.

Brief Description:  Concerning the issuance of charge cards to employees of municipal corporations and political subdivisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Romero, H. Myers, Edmondson and Bray.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Local Government, February 12, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, March 8, 1993, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives H. Myers, Chair; Bray, Vice Chair; Edmondson, Ranking Minority Member; Reams, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dunshee; R. Fisher; Horn; Rayburn; Romero; Springer; and Van Luven.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  Any municipal corporation or political subdivision may issue charge cards to its officers and employees.  The charge cards may only be used for the purpose of covering expenses incident to authorized travel.  The person using the charge card must submit a fully itemized travel expense voucher within 10 days of the billing date.

The municipal corporation or political subdivision has unlimited authority to revoke the use of any charge cards it issues.

Summary of Bill:  Municipal corporations and political subdivisions that issue charge cards to their officers and employees are required to adopt rules concerning the distribution of the charge cards, the authorization and control of the use of the charge cards, credit limits available on the charge cards, payment of bills, and other rules that are determined to be appropriate.

Restrictions that allow the charge cards to be used only for expenses incident to authorized travel are deleted.

Municipal corporations and political subdivisions may not issue affinity credit cards to their officers and employees.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This allows local governments to regulate the use of credit cards by their employees in the same manner the state regulates the use of credit cards by state employees.  If a credit card is misused, the local government can withhold wages of the employee.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (pro) Jim Justin, Association of Washington Cities.