SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1050

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                                 APRIL 1, 1991

Brief Description:  Modifying the type of emergency medical service districts that may impose excess levies.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Morris, Cooper, Wynne, Peery, Ogden, Wang, Nealey and H. Myers).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Roach, Vice Chairman; Madsen, Matson, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Hearing Dates:April 1, 1991

BACKGROUND:

A county legislative authority may adopt an ordinance creating an emergency medical service district in all or a portion of the unincorporated area of the county.  The members of the county legislative authority are the governing body of the district.  An emergency medical service district may impose a regular property tax of 25 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed value of property in the taxing district for six consecutive years.  This regular property tax must be approved by a super-majority of at least three-fifths of the electors.  For some emergency medical service districts, this 25-cent regular property tax is insufficient to cover very basic services.  Unlike many other special districts, emergency medical service districts do not have statutory authority to ask voters for an excess levy.

SUMMARY:

An excess levy for emergency medical service districts with a population density of less than 1,000 per square mile is authorized.

A drafting error from several years is corrected.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one