FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6314

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: County Road Engineers. A county road engineer (CRE) is the county employee responsible for all work and records relating to county road construction, maintenance, ownership, and planning. The specific duties, location, method of record retention and other requirements of a CRE are prescribed in current law.

Road Vacation. By ordinance, a county may choose to vacate certain county roads and transfer those roads to other entities. A county may require compensation equal to, or a percentage of, the appraised value of the road that is being vacated. In King County, there are multiple segments of county roads that are located wholly within a city or town and not connected to the county road system.

Work by County Employees. In counties with a population of 400,000 or more, county employees may only perform work valued at up to ten percent of the dollar value of the annual public works budget. All remaining work, except emergency work, must be contracted out. Additionally, county employees in these counties may not perform a public works project in excess of $90,000 if more than one trade is involved, or a public works project in excess of $45,000 if only one trade is involved.

Summary: County Road Engineers (CRE). Language listing specific books and other items to be provided to a CRE is stricken. Language stating books in the CRE's office are public records is replaced with language that would make all records under the authority of the CRE public records. Requirements for CREs to keep certain records are striken and new language is added requiring certain records to be publically available and retained as other records are by the county.

Road Vacation. When determining compensation on a road to be vacated by a county, in addition to current law allowing a county to require compensation equal to, or a percentage of, appraised value, a board of county commissioners may take into consideration transfer of liability, risk, increased property taxes, cost avoidance, limits on development and future public benefit.

Work by County Employees. In counties with a population of 400,000 or more, definitions of "Riverine project" and "Storm water project" are provided. In these counties, county employees may complete a riverine or stormwater project that is $250,000 or less, if more than one trade is involved, or is $125,000 if only one trade is involved.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	47	0
House	73	24	(House amended)
Senate	47	1	(Senate concurred)