FINAL BILL REPORT

                           SSB 5567

                          C 331 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Allowing benefits for emergency medical service district volunteers.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Barr, Owen and Erwin)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BACKGROUND:

There are emergency medical service districts (EMSD) in the state that depend on volunteer assistance.  These volunteers are not covered under state workers' compensation provisions, nor are they covered under any relief or pension plans.  Volunteer fire fighters are covered under the Volunteer Fire Fighters' Pension and Relief Act.  Many EMSD volunteers are also volunteer fire fighters, but an estimated 100 are not.

SUMMARY:

Volunteer EMSD workers are covered under the existing volunteer fire fighters' relief and pension provisions, to be administered by a board of trustees in each county with an EMSD.  The board of trustees is composed of three county commissioners or their designees, the county auditor, a councilmember from each city in the district, the head of the EMSD, and one elected EMSD volunteer.

The State Board of Volunteer Fire Fighters is responsible for setting the contribution rates for the pension fund and for the relief fund.  Contributions for pensions are paid by the districts and the emergency workers.  Contributions for relief are paid by the districts.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    49   0

House     95   0    (House amended)

Senate    36   0    (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 25, 1993