HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5144

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen and DeJarnatt)

Preserving documents recorded with the county auditors.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn, Todd, Wolfe, Wood and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 12, 1989

BACKGROUND:

County auditors are the repositories of many public records and other documents.  Other records or documents are filed with other county officials.  Fees are charged for the filing of most documents with county auditors.

SUMMARY:

County auditors are authorized to install and maintain improved systems to copy, preserve, and index documents that are recorded with the county, including photomicrographics and computerized digital storage.

A surcharge of $2 per instrument recorded with a county auditor is imposed.  One dollar of this surcharge expires on January 1, 1995.

Fifty percent of the surcharge receipts is retained by the county and deposited in the auditor's operations and maintenance fund for preserving historical documents.  The other 50 percent is transmitted to the state treasurer monthly.  After deducting administrative costs of not to exceed 1 percent, the state treasurer distributes these moneys back to the counties as follows: (1) half of the moneys are distributed equally among the counties; and (2) the balance is distributed to counties in direct proportion to their populations.  The moneys received by a county from the state treasurer must be placed into a new account entitled the Auditor's Centennial Document Preservation and Modernization Account to be used exclusively for the preservation of historical documents.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Darlene DeRozier, Cowlitz County Auditor; Jane Hague, King County Department of Records and Elections; Sue Burkley, Recording Manager of Thurston County.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Many old documents are in horrible condition.  Some are beyond saving.  These documents are our history. 

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.