ALERT--WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!
There's little time left to get ESB 5498, our multi-year levy lid lift, scheduled for a floor vote in the House of Representatives.
Please contact your Representatives and let them know that ESB 5498 gives fire districts an additional tool that increases efficient use of tax dollars and allows for some long-term planning. This bill allows local voters to pass lid lift levies for up to six years. Currently a district must pay for an election each year.
Let districts spend taxpayer dollars on fire trucks, not elections.
For any of you in Southwestern or Central Washington, please contact Representative Orcutt and Representative Condotta and let them know that managing resources wisely is very important to you and this tool helps you do that. They voted against the bill in committee today, arguing that fire districts don't need it. Please tell them otherwise!
TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR...
Call the Legislative Hotline toll-free at 1.800.562.6000.
Email your legislator...log onto http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/Default.aspx.
To find your legislator...log onto log onto http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx.
Updates from the last report are shown here in bold type. For additional information on bills, you may access the state legislative homepage at www.leg.wa.gov or call Roger Ferris at 1.800.491.9322.
SHB 1024: This is a legislative proposal which will ban the use of DECA flame retardant in household items if a safer alternative is found. The WFCA has concerns with regulatory and special interest groups having unilateral authority to ban this flame retardant. It should be the responsibility of the state legislature to implement, through a public legislative vote, as this legislation has far-reaching policy impacts. SHB 1024 passed the Senate and will be delivered to the Governor for signature.
ESHB 1368: This is the special purpose district legislation to implement cost of living adjustments for commissioner per diem compensation. Fire district commissioners currently receive $70 per day. This legislative proposal will increase the per diem compensation up to $90 per day with a yearly maximum of $8,640 per year. Senate Rules.
SSB 6119: This bill was amended by the House Appropriations Committee with the following striker amendment language:
The amendment eliminates the Senate bill provisions that increased the distribution of state fire insurance premium tax.
The House amendment adds provisions which creates a general fund--state appropriation account, for the joint apprenticeship training program.
The striker amendment includes a null and void clause.
SSB 6119 does not impact current funding programs; however, new dedicated fund (15% of insurance premium) has been deleted and apprenticeship program must be funded through state appropriation.
The following proposals are request legislation from the LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.
SHB 1679: Provides for one position on the LEOFF 2 Retirement Board to be a retired employee. It does not affect employer representation or increase board membership from its current eleven members. Passed Senate Ways & Means Committee as amended. Senate Second Reading Calendar.
HB 1680: Provides for service credit calculations and transfer provisions. Monitor. Rules.
Both the House and Senate budgets protect the Enhanced 911 Account from being raided by other agencies. We will monitor this issue until the final budget has been approved by the state Legislature. The State Budget (SHB 1128) passed the Senate. We will provide updates as the budget moves through the process. We are appreciative of the House and Senate recognizing the importance of E-911 statewide funding. We are confident that the E-911 account has been protected.
SHB 2147: A legislative proposal which provides vocational rehabilitation services to volunteer firefighters who are injured and/or disabled "in the line of duty". This is a new benefit which will be provided through the Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Police Officers Relief and Pension Program, without increase in disability payments by fire districts. WFCA was successful with amendment to provide for an emergency clause, so injured firefighters can access vocational rehab benefits immediately after bill becomes law. Passed Senate 48-0. WFCA supports. Bill will be delivered to the Governor for signature.
ESHB 1833: This bill will expand the firefighter presumptive disease statutes in workers' compensation laws to include stomach cancer, intestinal cancer, multiple myeloma, testicular cancer and prostate cancer. Also presumes that strenuous exercise resulting in injury to the heart is presumed to be occupationally related. This legislation amends the presumptive disease rebuttal language from current preponderance of the evidence, to be rebutted by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. Also, if the employee prevails and the presumption is upheld, the employee will be awarded full benefits, attorneys' fees, expert witness costs and all other costs. WFCA will use the same criteria as in past years to evaluate the proposed added cancers and requests a fiscal note for cost impacts to workers' comp rates. This bill is proposed by the State Council of Fire Fighters and is supported by the Washington Fire Chiefs. Amendments have been added to restore preponderance of evidence for rebuttal, clarifies attorney fees, and deletes stomach cancer and amends prostate cancer. Employer cost impacts have been reduced significantly with House floor striking amendment. Rules.
NVFC Junior Firefighter Applications Due May 15.
Chief Jim Shields (Poulsbo Fire Department) Retirement Celebration.
New website launched for WFCA Health Care Program.
The Chelan Seminar is May 31st!
