SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6740

As Passed Senate, February 18, 2002

Title:  An act relating to irrigation districts' acceptance of methods of payment.

Brief Description:  Authorizing irrigation districts to accept various methods of payment.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Swecker, Shin and Parlette.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & International Trade:  2/8/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/18/02, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Snyder, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Kim Johnson (786-7486)

Background:  Currently, cities and counties may accept credit cards, debit cards, and other alternative methods of payment for taxes due.  Irrigation districts have not been given the statutory authority to accept these forms of payment.

Ordinarily, when a merchant agrees to accept a credit card or similar method of payment, the merchant pays a fee in order to accept that form of payment for each transaction.

Summary of Bill:  Irrigation districts may accept credit cards, debit cards, and other methods of payment as specified in the bill for payment of any kind, including but not limited to: assessments, fines, fees and rates.

The irrigation district may determine whether the transaction fee is paid by the customer, or if it is in the best interest of the district to assume the transaction fees.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Irrigation districts manage a variety of programs and our customers are requesting that we accept credit cards, debit cards, and other electronic methods of payment.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tom Myrum, Washington State Water Resources Assoc. (pro).