Title: An act relating to the coordination of water and sewer system utilities.

Brief Description: Requiring local governments and public utilities to consult when relocating water/sewer facilities.

Sponsors: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives P. Sullivan, Schindler, Clibborn, Upthegrove, Simpson and Chase).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/08/05, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/28/05 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background: State law allows a county, or the state, to move the location of the facilities of a utility where reasonably necessary in order to construct, alter, or improve a road or highway. As a general rule the costs associated with moving the utility's facilities are at the expense of the utility. However, the state may bear the expenses associated with the removal of a utility in certain instances where federal funding is available for the reimbursement of such expenses.

Summary of Amended Bill: Cities and counties are required to consult with public water/sewer system utilities in order to coordinate design, during the pre-design phase of construction projects, involving the relocation of sewer and/or water facilities.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The amended bill replaces the substitute house bill's amendment of the statute concerning county franchises for roads and bridges, with the more general reference to the county statutes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This is a government efficiency bill. We can avoid wasting taxpayer dollars, such as what happened with the frog crossing, by improving communication. Our goal is to get coordination done at the pre-design phase so as to reduce the number of constituent complaints from tearing up the roads twice.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Pat Sullivan, prime sponsor; Joe Daniels, Washington State Association of Sewer and Water Districts.