H-3463.1                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 2547

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Schoesler, Lisk, Sheldon, Chandler, Quall, Rayburn, Mastin, McMorris, Foreman, Dyer, B. Thomas, Chappell, Dunshee, Hansen, Basich, Jones, Ballard and Fuhrman

Read first time 01/17/94.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Including volunteer fire fighters on department of labor and industries advisory committees regarding safety standards for fire fighters.

          AN ACT Relating to the inclusion of volunteer fire fighters on department of labor and industries advisory committees regarding safety standards for fire fighters; adding a new section to chapter 49.17 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  It is the intent of the legislature that any advisory committee created by the department of labor and industries for the purpose of advising the department on safety standards and fire fighting techniques for fire fighters provide the agency with a range of perspectives that is representative of the various interests throughout the industry.  In Washington, there are approximately eighteen thousand volunteer fire fighters serving the public.  Volunteer fire fighters have different safety interests and needs than do fire fighters in more urban environments.  These volunteer fire fighters wish to have their voices heard in the process of developing safety standards for the fire protection industry in Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 49.17 RCW to read as follows:

          If the department of labor and industries creates or participates in a fire protection industry advisory committee, the committee must have the level of diversity in geographical representation necessary to fairly consider regulations specific to rural and outdoor fire protection needs.

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