SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6220

              As Passed Senate, February 7, 1996

Title:  An act relating to increased benefits for volunteer fire fighters.

Brief Description:  Increasing disability and death benefits for volunteer fire fighters.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen, Moyer, Swecker, Sutherland, Drew, Rinehart, Goings, Snyder, Quigley, Haugen, Winsley, Oke, Roach, Bauer, Prentice, Hargrove, Sheldon, Wojahn, Finkbeiner and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  1/11/96, 1/23/96 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/7/96, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Fraser, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, McDonald, Moyer, Roach, Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Denise Graham (786-7715)

Background:  The Volunteer Fire Fighters' Relief and Pension Act was created to provide protection to volunteer fire fighters in the event of injury or death in the performance of duty and to provide an incentive to keep them volunteering for longer periods of time.  Revenues to the Volunteer Fire Fighters' Relief and Pension Fund are from fees assessed on the fire districts and cities with volunteer fire districts and from 40 percent of the fire insurance premiums tax.

The benefit provided for a fire fighter who becomes temporarily disabled as a result of the performance of fire fighting duties is $1,650 per month for a period not to exceed six months.  A fire fighter who is permanently disabled in the performance of duty receives $825 per month, plus $165 per month for a spouse and $70 per month for each child, up to a total maximum of $1,650 per month.

The survivors of a fire fighter who dies as a result of the performance of duties receives a lump sum payment of $2,000, plus $825 per month and $70 per month for each child, up to a maximum of $1,650 per month.

These benefit amounts were last increased July 1, 1989.

Summary of Bill:  The benefit provided for a fire fighter who becomes temporarily disabled as a result of the performance of fire fighting duties is an amount equal to his or her monthly wage or $2,550 per month, whichever is less, for a period not to exceed six months.  A fire fighter who is permanently disabled in the performance of duty receives $1,275 per month, plus $255 per month for a spouse and $110 per month for each child, up to a total maximum of $2,550 per month.

The survivors of a fire fighter who dies as a result of the performance of duties receives a lump sum payment of $2,000, plus $1,275 per month and $110 per month for each child, up to a maximum of $2,550 per month.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 1996.

Testimony For:  This is the only benefit available to volunteer fire fighters.  It hasn't been increased since 1989.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified:  Pete Spiller, Fire Commissioners; Joe Faubion, Board of Volunteer Fire Fighters.