SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 2182

                AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 1, 1994

Brief Description:  Providing transfer rights to certain port district fire fighters.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Kremen, Mielke, Eide, King, Linville and H. Myers)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Fraser, McAuliffe, Sutherland, Vognild and Wojahn.

Staff:  David Cheal (786‑7576)

Hearing Dates: February 18, 1994

BACKGROUND:

1986 legislation authorized fire fighters to transfer employment into a city, town, or fire protection district if the employee:  is going to lose his or her job as a direct consequence of a consolidation, merger, incorporation, or annexation; is principally performing duties that are to be performed in the new fire protection agency; and meets the minimum requirements of the position.

These transfer rights are only available to fire fighters employed by cities, towns, and fire protection districts.  Fire fighters employed by port districts do not have these same transfer rights.

SUMMARY:

A fire fighter who is employed by a port district may transfer employment to a city or fire protection district in the same manner and under the same conditions as a fire fighter employed by a city or fire protection district following an annexation, merger, consolidation or incorporation.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Airport fire fighters were overlooked in 1986 when the basic legislation was passed.  There is no reason why they shouldn't have the same transfer rights as other fire fighters.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Port fire fighters are not trained the same as traditional fire fighters.

TESTIFIED:  Ken Snider, Firefighters (pro); Scott Taylor, WPPA (con)