HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 11

BYRepresentatives Haugen, Madsen, Sayan and S. Wilson 

Authorizing emergency service communication districts.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith, and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT JANUARY 21, 1987

BACKGROUND:

County voters can authorize the imposition of a countywide tax for a six-year period on telephone access lines to finance a countywide system of emergency service communications.  The required vote on a ballot proposition, authorizing the tax is a 60% super majority vote, with a 40% validation requirement, similar to that required to approve an excess property tax levy.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  One or more less than countywide emergency service communication districts may be established in a county to finance the provision of emergency service communications systems.  An emergency service communication district is a separate unit of government, with the members of the county legislative authority constituting the district governing body.

A district can impose a telephone access line tax to finance the communication system if authorized by the voters with the same voter approval percentage requirements as for a countywide tax imposed by the county.

Approval of a ballot proposition to create the district is by a simple majority vote.  At the same election, a second ballot proposition may be submitted to the voters of the proposed district to authorize a telephone access line tax to finance the system for a six-year period.  Approval of the second ballot proposition is by the same voter approval percentage requirements as for a countywide tax imposed by the county.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  An emergency clause is added to the bill.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Bud Norris, Snohomish County; Robert Larson, City of Stanwood; Norm McConnaughey, Island Fire District No. 46; Pete Spillar, Wash. Fire Commissioners Assn.; Howard Vietzke, Council of Firefighters; Otto Jensen, Wash. State Assn. of Fire Chiefs; Richard Moa, Island County Fire District No. 6; Kit Hawkins, GTE Northwest; and Dale Vincent, Pacific Northwest Bell.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) Certain less than countywide areas desire an E911 system, but due to geography it is not feasible for a countywide system.  (2) The Marysville area of Snohomish County has hesitated in signing an agreement on E911 with the rest of the county, hoping that the Camano Island area can come into the system.  Cost savings will arise if the Camano area can be included at the onset of establishing the system and contract with Snohomish County for a joint E911 system.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.