HB 2309-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Finds that the fees associated with various actions of the department of ecology relating to the processing and administration of water rights are outdated and are insufficient even to recover the cost of handling the funds submitted. Additionally, water right processing fees are currently collected at three different stages of the water rights process, whereas reducing the number of instances of fee collection to two stages of the process would increase efficiency and reduce administrative costs. Furthermore, several current statutory fees are archaic or are otherwise covered by other general statutes, including the public disclosure act.

Declares an intent to update and modernize the fee schedule associated with water right-related actions of the department of ecology.

Creates the water rights tracking system account in the state treasury. Twenty percent of the fees collected by the department of ecology according to RCW 90.03.470 must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used by the department of ecology for the development, implementation, and management of a water rights tracking system, including a water rights mapping system and a water rights data base.