Senate approves good bills for PUDs, public water supplies and military personnel

March 3, 2009

Olympia…Three bills co-sponsored by Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, to aid public utility districts, protect public water supplies and help military personnel were approved by the Senate on March 2. 

Senate Bill 5267 would streamline accounting systems for PUDs and joint operating agencies between PUDs and municipalities, bringing them in line with modern banking. SB 5267 allows these entities to issue checks instead of interest bearing warrants to pay their debts, including payroll. Liability for stolen warrants that are cashed by banks falls on the issuing agency – with checks the bank is liable. 

“This is a simple bill but important in Okanogan, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties,” Morton said. 

Senate Bill 5199 would require backflow assembly testers and cross-connection control specialists to be certified in the same manner as water supply system operators. Faulty systems can put public water supplies at risk for contamination. SB 5199 was requested by Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky. 

“This is a common sense bill that increases the safety of public water supplies,” Morton said “I was glad to see it proposed and happy to join in the bipartisan effort to get it approved.”  

Senate Bill 5739 would waive the $10 late penalty for military personnel to renew concealed weapons permits that have expired. Because active duty military members may not be in the state when their permits expire, SB 5739 gives them 90 days from when they come back to Washington to renew their permits without having to pay the penalty.  

“So many of our members of the military are away from home right now and we need to ensure they are not paying late fees when duty prevents them from meeting the deadline,” Morton said. 

All of these measures are now before the House of Representatives for consideration. 

The next deadline for the Legislature is Thursday, March 12. This is the last day for the House and Senate to act on their own bills, except those necessary to implement the budget and bills that fall into dispute between the House and Senate.

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov