BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to the creation of urban emergency medical service districts; amending RCW 84.52.069; and adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

The council of a city or town that has territory included in two counties may adopt an ordinance creating an urban emergency medical service district in all of the portion of the city or town that is located in one of the two counties if: (1) The county in which the urban emergency medical service district is located does not impose an emergency medical service levy authorized under RCW 84.52.069; and (2) the other county in which the city or town is located does impose an emergency medical service levy authorized under RCW 84.52.069. The ordinance creating the district may only be adopted after a public hearing has been held on the creation of the district and the council makes a finding that it is in the public interest to create the district. The members of the city or town council, acting in an ex officio capacity and independently, shall compose the governing body of the urban emergency medical service district. The voters of an urban emergency medical service district shall be all registered voters residing within the urban emergency medical service district.

An urban emergency medical service district shall be a quasi- municipal corporation and an independent taxing "authority" within the meaning of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution. Urban emergency medical service districts shall also be "taxing authorities" within the meaning of Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution.

An urban emergency medical service district shall have the authority to contract under chapter 39.34 RCW with a county, city, town, fire protection district, public hospital district, or emergency medical service district to have emergency medical services provided within its boundaries.

Territory located in the same county as an urban emergency medical service district that is annexed by the city or town shall automatically be annexed to the urban emergency medical service district.

Sec. 2. RCW 84.52.069 and 1993 c 337 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) As used in this section, "taxing district" means a county, emergency medical service district, city or town, public hospital district, urban emergency medical service district, or fire protection district.

(2) A taxing district may impose additional regular property tax levies in an amount equal to fifty cents or less per thousand dollars of the assessed value of property in the taxing district in each year for six consecutive years when specifically authorized so to do by a majority of at least three-fifths of the registered voters thereof approving a proposition authorizing the levies submitted at a general or special election, at which election the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty per centum of the total ((~~votes cast~~)) number of voters voting in such taxing district at the last preceding general election when the number of registered voters voting on the proposition does not exceed forty per centum of the total ((~~votes cast~~)) number of voters voting in such taxing district in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at least three-fifths of the registered voters thereof voting on the proposition when the number of registered voters voting on the proposition exceeds forty per centum of the total ((~~votes cast~~)) number of voters voting in such taxing district in the last preceding general election. Ballot propositions shall conform with RCW 29.30.111.

(3) Any tax imposed under this section shall be used only for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services, including related personnel costs, training for such personnel, and related equipment, supplies, vehicles and structures needed for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services.

(4) If a county levies a tax under this section, no taxing district within the county may levy a tax under this section. No other taxing district may levy a tax under this section if another taxing district has levied a tax under this section within its boundaries: PROVIDED, That if a county levies less than fifty cents per thousand dollars of the assessed value of property, then any other taxing district may levy a tax under this section equal to the difference between the rate of the levy by the county and fifty cents: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a taxing district within a county levies this tax, and the voters of the county subsequently approve a levying of this tax, then the amount of the taxing district levy within the county shall be reduced, when the combined levies exceed fifty cents. Whenever a tax is levied county-wide, the service shall, insofar as is feasible, be provided throughout the county: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no county-wide levy proposal may be placed on the ballot without the approval of the legislative authority of each city exceeding fifty thousand population within the county: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section and RCW 36.32.480 shall not prohibit any city or town from levying an annual excess levy to fund emergency medical services: AND PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if a county proposes to impose tax levies under this section, no other ballot proposition authorizing tax levies under this section by another taxing district in the county may be placed before the voters at the same election at which the county ballot proposition is placed: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any taxing district emergency medical service levy that is authorized subsequent to a county emergency medical service levy, shall expire concurrently with the county emergency medical service levy.

(5) The tax levy authorized in this section is in addition to the tax levy authorized in RCW 84.52.043.

(6) The limitation in RCW 84.55.010 shall not apply to the first levy imposed pursuant to this section following the approval of such levy by the voters pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.