HB 1369/SB 5498 was a casualty of Wednesday's procedural "meltdown" which caused the Senate to adjourn over two hours early. SB 5498 was ready to be voted on in the last schedule of bills prior to the 5:00 p.m. cut-off. The good news is that many influential legislators in both the House and Senate are working with the WFCA, Washington Fire Chiefs, Washington State Council of Firefighters, Association of Washington Cities, Association of Washington Counties, State Library Association and the municipal and county employees to resurrect SB 5498. We have already met with various legislators and have more meetings scheduled next week. I know that many are disappointed; however, this bill is not dead and we will continue to push for passage through various procedural rules available. 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 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 $25.00 to $27.00 on each acre in excess of 50 acres. Rules. WFCA supports. Appears dead.
SSB 5271: This is a county auditor association proposal which would eliminate the March and April special election dates for taxing districts. SB 5271 is in Rules. Monitor. Appears dead.
SHB 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). Rules. WFCA strongly opposes as written. Appears dead.
HB 2110: A legislative proposal by the Washington Fire Chiefs to allow fire districts the authority to use impact fees. Rules. Appears dead.
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. SHB 1024 is in Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee.
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. Passed House 95-0. SSB 5233 is in Rules. WFCA supports. Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee.
SB 6119: This bill will enhance the fire service training account revenue through an increase from 20% to 35% of all monies received by the state through the fire insurance premiums and would dedicate a portion of the tax to the firefighter joint apprenticeship training program. SB 6119 passed Senate. Support. Referred to House Appropriations Committee.
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. The Washington State Council of Fire Fighters is neutral to this legislation. Rules. Appears dead.
The following three proposals are request legislation from the LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.
SB 5589: Provides LEOFF 2 retiree eligibility to participate in the state of Washington health care program. SB 5589 appears dead. Support.
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. Senate Ways & Means Committee. Monitor.
HB 1680: Provides for service credit calculations and transfer provisions. Senate Ways & Means Committee. Monitor.
The WFCA is 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 is working with the counties, E-911 directors and local emergency communication groups to oppose this unwarranted raid on the E-911 account. House budget will be announced on Tuesday, March 20. We will be reporting next week with updated status on this issue.
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. Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee. WFCA supports.
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 attorneys' fees, and deletes stomach cancer and amends prostate cancer. ESHB 1833 has been referred to Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee.
SSB 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. 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. Rules. Appears dead.
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!
