We continue to work with Senate Democratic and Republican leadership to schedule SB 5448 (Multi-Year Lid Lift) for a vote under special procedural rules. We have made considerable progress and still list this legislation as alive. We will provide a special update as soon as more information is received. Stay tuned--there's more to come on this issue. Also, the NASCAR Race Track Legislation (SB 6040) will be heard Monday in Senate Ways & Means Committee. We will be supporting the Washington Fire Chiefs with clarifying language to ensure that fire protection and EMS contracts are fully funded. 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/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. WFCA supports. Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee. ESHB 1368 was heard on March 22.
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. House Appropriations Committee.
The following three proposals are request legislation from the LEOFF Plan 2 Retirement Board.
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 House budget was unveiled earlier this week and the Appropriations Committee went into a marathon public hearing and executive session which lasted until 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The House version does not raid the E-911 account to fund state interoperability and restores the $10 million back into the E-911 account. The Senate will unveil its budget on March 27 with hearings immediately scheduled in Senate Ways & Means Committee. We will continue to work closely with county representatives to ensure that the Senate version is in concert with the House budget. Also, the WFCA was successful in incorporating through the House Capital Budget (SHB 1092) a study to examine rural fire districts' ability to finance fire stations and to assess and identify potential sources of financial assistance. The report shall be completed by December 1, 2007. We will report on any new budget items as we examine the House and Senate budgets.
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 attorney fees, and deletes stomach cancer and amends prostate cancer. Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee. Hearing scheduled for March 27. Employer cost impacts have been reduced significantly with House floor striking amendment.
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!
