HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 2

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, Hine, Allen, Nutley, Ferguson, Barnes, Valle, Unsoeld and P. King) 

Modifying provisions relating to water and sewer districts.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

     Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith, and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 28, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Both sewer districts and water districts have been authorized to provide sanitary sewers, storm sewers, street lighting, and water facilities.  The statutes relating to sewer districts and water districts are substantially the same.  The authority of a sewer district to provide water facilities references water district procedures.  The authority of a water district to provide sewer facilities references sewer district procedures.

SUMMARY:

Statutes relating to both sewer districts and water districts are changed as follows:

(1)  The period of time is reduced from 90 days, to 30 days, after the district adopts a resolution to proceed with establishing the street lighting system, when a district loses its authority to establish the street lighting system if a protest petition is filed.

(2)  The size of a district board of commissioners may be increased from three to five members.

(3)  A commissioner position can be declared vacant if the commissioner has unexcused absences from three consecutive regularly scheduled district meetings.  The commissioner must be mailed notice after he or she misses the second consecutive meeting that such action will be taken.

(4)  Revenue bonds can be issued for any purpose or function that a district has been authorized in statute.

(5)  Special assessments from a utility local improvement district (ULID) can be deposited into a fund used to pay for improvement costs prior to the issuance of revenue bonds.

(6)  A district can annex areas unilaterally if the area is less than 100 acres and has at least 80 percent of its boundaries coterminous with part of the boundaries of the annexing district and another district.  A timely filed referendum petition can force an election on the annexation.

(7)  Territory in one district can be transferred to another district upon petition of the owners of 60 percent of the area, and approval by the boards of commissioners of both districts.

(8)  It is specified that reasonable attorneys' fees may be included in a judgment foreclosing liens on delinquent local improvement assessments of a district.

(9)  A district may permit installment payments on connection charges to be made over 15 years.

Sewer district laws are changed authorizing sewer districts to provide approved septic tanks and approved septic tank systems, and facilities to collect, treat, and dispose of wastewater, and to control pollution from wastewater, and to protect and rehabilitate surface and underground waters.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  (1) The petition signature requirement to force a ballot issue to be submitted to district voters on increasing the number of commissioners from three to five, is changed from 15 percent to 10 percent of the district voters; and (2) language was added allowing a water district contiguous with Canada to contract with a Canadian corporation for the purpose of purchasing water and for the construction, maintenance, and supply of waterworks to furnish the district and the residents of Canada with an ample supply of water.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Bill Mudge, Washington State Association of Sewer Districts and Joe Daniels, Washington State Association of Water Districts.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     This is a technical bill making numerous small changes.  Red tape is removed from several procedures.  Fewer bonds will need to be issued when a ULID is created.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.