The following bills are updated as of Friday, February 9. The Legislature has been in session for 33 days and new proposals continue to be introduced. It appears that growth management and annexation legislation have increased over the past week and we are in the process of reviewing numerous bills which may affect fire district operations. More introductions are expected next week, so new bills will continue to be added until the February 28 non-fiscal committee cut-off. Updates from the last report are shown here in bold type. For additional information on bills, you may access the state legislative homepage at www1.leg.wa.gov or call Roger Ferris at 1.800.491.9322.
HB 1369/SB 5498: THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE WFCA. This bill provides special purpose districts with authority to lift the lid for up to six years and provide for the district to set its own rate of growth index for years two through six (it can be based on CPI or on a straight percentage as stated on the ballot). We expect the Senate version to be introduced in the near future. This is the same legislation as last year's 2SSB 5333 and is strongly supported by all special districts as a way to reduce election costs and to plan for future growth. HB 1369 has a public hearing scheduled for Friday, February 9, 8 a.m., in House Finance Committee. SB 5498 is scheduled for public hearing in Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on Tuesday, February 6 at 1:30 p.m.
HB 1125: This legislation will increase the forest fire protection flat fee assessments from its current level of $14.50 to $17.50 and increase from $.25 to $.27 on each acre in excess of 50 acres. Passed Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. WFCA supports. Hearing scheduled for Monday, February 5 in Appropriations Committee.
SB 5217: Will provide for an increase in the county conservation futures property tax levy from 6.25 cents to 12.5 cents per $1,000 assessed value. WFCA has concerns on possible proration of EMS levies. Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee.
HB 1470: Provides for state capital funding assistance for rural fire districts with a population of 10,000 or less through the public works assistance account. The funding assistance will assist fire districts for repayment of all or a portion of the principal or interest to finance construction of fire stations. House Capital Budget Committee.
HB 1620: This legislation will provide a sales and use tax exemption for law enforcement and local governments' motor vehicles if they are used exclusively to provide emergency services including medical-aid vehicles, ambulances and fire engines. House Finance Committee. WFCA supports.
HB 1653: This is a county auditor association proposal which would eliminate the March and April special election dates for taxing districts. House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee. WFCA will confer with other taxing district associations and at present time will monitor.
HB 1724: This proposal provides that the Director of Fire Protection shall, by rule, adopt a fire safety standard for upholstered furniture and electronic equipment by December 31, 2007. WFCA strongly supports HB 1724 as good public safety policy. House Commerce & Labor Committee.
HB 1622: This bill revises boundary review board authority and provides unilateral authority to expand/adjust the boundary of a proposed annexation to include all land located within an unincorporated urban growth area (which is not included in an annexation petition). House Local Government Committee. WFCA strongly opposes as written. Hearing scheduled Tuesday, February 6 at 1:30 p.m.
SHB 1024/SSB 5034: 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. Both SHB 1024 and SSB 5034 are in Rules.
HB 1223/SB 5505: This legislation would provide for a regional system to respond to hazardous materials incidents and appropriate $23 million to the Director of Fire Protection Services to fund regional response teams throughout the state. This is a Washington Fire Chiefs (WFC) proposal. Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee. WFCA supports concept.
HB 1367: This is a WFCA legislative proposal which would authorize fire station public works projects that cost less than $10,000.00 to proceed without a formal bid process. The current maximum is $2,500.00 and has not been adjusted for inflation in over 20 years. House Local Government Committee. The building trade unions are opposed to 1367 as written. WFCA continues to discuss this issue with the trade unions in attempting to find compromise language to address their prevailing wage concerns.
HB 1368/SB 5233: This is the special purpose district legislation to implement retroactive 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. House Local Government Committee. Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee. WFCA supports.
SB 5432: This is a WFCA proposal which provides authority for fire district boards of commissioners to expand from five to seven members with voter approval. Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee. The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters is opposed to this legislation as currently written.
The following three proposals are request legislation from the LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.
SB 5589/HB 1678: Provides LEOFF 2 retiree eligibility to participate in the state of Washington health care program. Referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee. Monitor.
SB 5590/HB 1679: Provides for employee board representation to be either an active employee or a retired employee. It does not affect employer representation or increase board membership from its current eleven members. SB 5590/HB 1679 has been referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee. Monitor.
SB 5591/HB 1680: Provides for service credit calculations and transfer provisions. SB 5591 has been referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee. Monitor.
The WFCA will be involved in several areas of the state budget. One of the main issues is the Enhanced 911 account being "raided" to fund state interoperability communications. It appears that $10 million may be at stake. The WFCA strongly opposes the transfer of state E-911 revenues to fund any project. The E-911 system was created by passage of a statewide referendum for E-911 services and support to rural counties and their vision to upgrade to an integrated Enhanced 911 system in every area of the state. WFCA will be working with the counties, E-911 directors and local emergency communication groups to oppose this unwarranted raid on the E-911 account. We will report on other issues as we review all budget documents from the Governor, House and Senate.
HB 1878: 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. HB 1878 has been referred to House Appropriations Committee. WFCA supports.
HB 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. HB 1833 has been referred to House Commerce & Labor Committee. 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.
SB 5420: This legislation will mandate that any public agency that owns and/or maintains a public Internet website shall post all ordinances, resolutions, rules, etc., adopted by the governing body within five days of adoption and the minutes of all regular and business meetings shall be posted on the website within five business days of the meetings. Also, the schedule of regular and/or special meetings shall be promptly posted. SB 5420 has been referred to Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee. WFCA has strong concerns with implementing this legislation in short time frames; language is unclear on several provisions of the bill, and impacts on agencies that do not have full time staff.
SB 5672: This is a revised version of SB 5420 on posting of information on public agency websites. Deletes the
five-day requirement and states that posting of minutes shall be done within a reasonable time after a meeting. Referred to Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee. Bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, February 5.
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!
