Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS

Local Government Committee

HB 2726


This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Addressing cost recovery for fire protection and public safety services.

Sponsors: Representatives Fromhold and Ericks.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows fire protection agencies to recover any costs associated with responding to a fire or public safety incident involving a commercial vessel on navigable waters.

Hearing Date: 1/29/08

Staff: Lyset Cadena (786-7291).

Background:

Fire Departments
City and town fire departments set standards for addressing the reporting and accountability of career fire departments, and specify performance measures applicable to response time objectives for certain major services.

Cities and towns are required to maintain a written statement or policy establishing the following:

Cities and towns must provide service delivery objectives in a written statement or policy. The objectives need to include specific response times for the following major service components, if appropriate:

Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities
A Regional Fire Protection Service Authority (Authority) may be created for the purpose of
conducting selected fire protection functions at a regional level. An Authority can be created by
the merger of two or more adjacent fire protection jurisdictions, including fire protection districts, cities, port districts, and Indian tribes.

Fire Protection Agencies Cost Recovery
There are no provisions under state law that explicitly address the recovery by a fire protection agency of costs related to responding to a fire or public safety incident on a commercial vessel within the navigable waters of the state.

Summary of Bill:

Fire protection agencies may recover costs associated with responding to a fire or public safety incident involving a commercial vessel on navigable waters.

The costs fire protection agencies are authorized to recover include:

Cost recovery associated with responding to a fire or public safety incident involving a commercial vessel on navigable waters does not preempt or limit the cost recovery rights and remedies available to fire protection agencies by other state or federal law.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.