WA Fire Commissioners Association

March 6, 2009

IMPACT FEES AND BID LIMITS INCREASE LEGISLATION PASS THE HOUSE

ESHB 1847 and HB 1080 passed the House and have been referred to Sen. Government Operations & Elections Cmte. We will be working hard to have early hearings on both bills as the cutoff to pass bills out of opposite house policy committees is March 30. A reminder that March 12, 5:00 p.m., is the cutoff to pass bills out of the house of origin. Updates from last week are shown 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.

WFCA PROPOSAL

ESHB 1847: WFCA proposal to increase fire district bid limits for public works projects from the current $2,500 to $40,000. The $2,500 limit has not been increased since 1984. HB 1230 has been amended onto SHB 1847 with a $20,000 limit. SHB 1847 passed the House (89-6) with a technical floor amendment and has been referred to Sen. Government Operations Cmte.

PROPERTY TAX/REVENUE LEGISLATION

HB 1526: This bill states that essential government services as a condition to exempt property owned (trust lands not within reservation boundaries) by federally recognized Indian tribes is exempt from property taxes and the exempted property is subject to the leasehold excise tax. WFCA has concerns with tax shifts to property owners that would in turn increase levy rates for taxing districts (fire districts) in which tribal owned properties exist. Appears dead.

ANNEXATION/GROWTH MANAGEMENT

SB 5084/HB 1207: Legislation has been reintroduced to reduce from 75% to 60% the amount of assessed valuation required for annexations in the 10 first class cities. City of Spokane and Vancouver are the primary advocates of this bill along with the Association of Washington Cities. HB 1207 appears dead. SB 5084 is on Second Reading Calendar.

SHB 2020/SSB 5808: Provides for notification of fire district employees in changes of employment status as a direct consequence to a city annexation of unincorporated areas. SB 5808 provides for a new annexation process through interlocal agreements with the city and county and states that fire districts shall be involved in negotiations. SB 5808 also provides for a 45-day referendum process for the citizens in the proposed annexation area through the interlocal agreement to force a vote with a 10% petition. Also, prior to this new process moving forward, the fire district has 45 days to either accept or decline negotiations. If a fire district declines, this process will cease and cannot move forward. Sen. Second Reading Calendar. WFCA opposes SHB 2020 as written, as committee amendment provides for 51% petition for annexation and provides a city in King County the option to annex without a vote or signing a petition. Also has referendum votes that are much more difficult to achieve than the other 38 counties. This amendment only applies to King County.

OPEN RECORDS/MEETINGS LEGISLATION

SHB 1552: Mandates that formal public testimony must be allowed prior to passage of any resolution or formal action. Rules. Amendments have been added to clarify that only the Administrative Procedures Act, not the Open Public Meetings Act, is required to have formal testimony. Monitor.

EMS

SHB 2029: State and county E-911 excise taxes are eliminated and replaced with a state and county "service fee" which shall be deposited into the E-911 account and may be spent to modernize and upgrade E-911 emergency communications throughout the state. Over the next 6 years, county service fees will increase incrementally from $0.90 on switched access lines, radio access lines, internet protocol-enabled voice services or other services capable of transmitting voice or data to $1.50 in 2014. WFCA supports. Appears dead.

SB 5432: This is the local government coalition legislation to address some county funding issues and provides a simple majority vote for emergency medical service levies. This is one of the top priorities from the WFCA legislative issue priority list that we have identified as realistic for passage in 2009. Sen. Ways & Means Cmte. WFCA strongly supports. NOTE: SB 5432 will also eliminate the 40% validation requirement. Appears dead.

OTHER BILLS

SHB 1015/ESSB 5011: Bill will prohibit the sale of "novelty" lighters, those shaped like cartoon characters, toys, musical instruments and other items that are attractive to children. NOTE: This legislation does not ban disposable cigarette lighters that do not meet the definition of novelty lighter. WFCA supports. SHB 1015 is in Rules. ESSB 5011 passed the Senate and has been referred to House Commerce & Labor Cmte.

HB 1080: This legislation is prime-sponsored by Rep. Geoff Simpson and provides impact fee authority for fire protection districts. We expect heavy opposition from the home builders. WFCA supports. Passed House on a 63-33 vote and has been referred to Sen. Government Operations & Elections Cmte.

HB 1196: A local government associations' joint proposal to increase the small works roster dollar limit from $200,000 to $300,000 for construction, building, renovation, repair or improvement of real property. WFCA supports. Passed the House 95-1. Sen. Government Operations & Elections Cmte.

HB 1374: This legislation will reinstate the intent to fund the local government archives program through the county surcharge of $1 per document recorded and repeal any future use of the funds for debt service on the state heritage center. Rules. WFCA supports the full funding of the local government archives program.

HB 2151/SB 5994: Governor Gregoire's request legislation to eliminate over 60 boards, commissions and advisory committees. Included on the list for elimination by June 30, 2010 is the EMS & Trauma Care Steering Cmte., Emergency Management Council, Fire Protection Policy Board and others. State Government & Tribal Affairs Cmte. WFCA will assess this 160-page bill and provide positions after discussions with other stakeholders and the Governor's Office.

ESHB 1018/SB 5016: A bill to eliminate March special elections. Senate Second Reading Calendar. ESHB 1018 passed the House. WFCA does not oppose. NOTE: House floor amendment restores the May special election for bonds; only the March date is eliminated. Sen. Government Operations Cmte.

SSB 5638: This bill will require that any contract entered into with a fire protection district must provide for adequate compensation (defined as compensation that may not fall below the proportional property tax burden of property located within the fire district). It appears amendments to reduce concerns of mutual aid agreements, statutory contracts and statewide mobilization have been clarified. Rules. WFCA supports.