SB 5498 Heads to the Senate Floor
The Senate Rules Committee pulled Senate Bill 5498 to the Second Reading Floor Calendar; the bill is now eligible to be considered by the Senate at any time! The next key cut-off date is Wednesday, March 14, when all bills must be voted out of their "House of Origin". Our focus is to get HB 1369 and SB 5498 out of their respective Houses, and scheduled for hearings after the March 14 cut-off. We expect the Legislature to work into the weekend with the possibility of a few late nights. We will keep everyone posted as the WFCA priority bill moves forward. This is a critical time, so please be prepared to contact your respective legislators if alerted by your lobbying team. 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.
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). HB 1369 and SB 5498 are supported by all special districts as a way to reduce election costs and to plan for future growth. SB 5498 has been placed on the Second Reading Calendar. HB 1369 is in Rules.
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 to $.27 on each acre in excess of 50 acres. Rules. WFCA supports.
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. Senate Ways & Means Committee. Appears dead. WFCA opposes.
SB 5642: This is the "safe cigarette" bill which provides for self extinguishing cigarettes. This provides good public policy for fire prevention. SB 5642 appears dead in Senate Ways & Means Committee. HB 1822 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.
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.
HB 2110: A legislative proposal by the Washington Fire Chiefs to allow fire districts the authority to use impact fees. Rules.
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.
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. Appropriations Committee. Appears dead. WFCA supports.
ESHB 1368/SSB 5233: 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. ESHB 1368 has been referred to Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee. We expect ESHB 1368 to be the bill moving forward.
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 Ways & Means Committee. HB 2097 appears dead. Support.
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.
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. SB 5589 passed Senate Ways & Means Committee. Rules. Support. HB 1678 appears dead.
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. Senate Ways & Means Committee. Monitor.
SB 5591/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. We are awaiting the House and Senate budget proposals prior to implementing a strategy.
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. SHB 2147 has been referred to Senate Government Operations and Elections 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. 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. The WFCA and the Association of Washington Cities oppose sections on attorneys' fees, amending the rebuttal language, and have concerns on multi-million dollar fiscal note which will increase workers' compensation rates for fire districts and cities. WFCA representatives met with Labor & Industries, the cities, self insurers and the Council of Fire Fighters to discuss possible amendments. We are meeting today (March 9) to discuss proposed amendments. Rules.
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.
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!
