05/03/2001 06:25 PM Senate RES

           HB 108-DEPT NATURAL RESOURCES RECORDING FEES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON announced HB 108 to be up for consideration.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. NICO  BUS, Department  of Natural Resources,  supported  HB 108.                                                            
He felt  that the Recorder's  Office would  be a good program  to be                                                            
funded by  a receipt supported  service because  we have 14  offices                                                            
around the state  and under the current funding law,  they have been                                                            
reducing  them and  their  staff, because  they are  competing  with                                                            
other DNR programs.  Annual revenues  are about $4 million  and they                                                            
have about  $2.4 million for expenditure  authorizations.  There are                                                            
other  expenditures  for the  recorders office  that  are tucked  in                                                            
different state  departments, such as leasing. Their  annual capital                                                            
budget for archival and  equipment is general funded and it would be                                                            
good  to use  the  receipt  system.  He said  their  customers  from                                                            
various industries support  this proposal - the Credit Union League,                                                            
Miners Association,  the Association of Realtors,  Title Association                                                            
and the Bankers Association.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR TAYLOR  moved to pass HB 108 from committee  with individual                                                            
recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.