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SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 1917
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Passed
Legislature - 1995 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th
Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/27/95.
Requiring that
department of natural resources contract with private entities for emergency
response equipment, supplies, and services.
AN ACT
Relating to emergency response services; amending RCW 76.04.145; adding new
sections to chapter 76.04 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that it is frequently in the best interest of the state to
utilize fire suppression equipment from private vendors whenever possible in
responding to incidents involving wildfires on department-protected lands. It
is the intent of the legislature to encourage the department of natural
resources to utilize kitchen, shower, and other fire suppression equipment from
private vendors as allowed in RCW 76.04.015(4)(b), when such utilization will
be most effective and efficient.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A new
section is added to chapter 76.04 RCW to read as follows:
(1)
The department shall, by June 1 of each year, establish a list of fire
suppression equipment, such as portable showers, kitchens, water tanks, dozers,
and hauling equipment, provided by the department so that the cost by unit or
category can be determined and can be compared to the expense of utilizing
private vendors.
(2)
The department shall establish a roster of quotes by vendors who are able to
provide equipment to respond to incidents involving wildfires on
department-protected lands. The department shall use these quotes from private
vendors to make a comparison with the costs established in subsection (1) of
this section. The department shall utilize the most effective and efficient
resource available for responding to wildfires.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. A new
section is added to chapter 76.04 RCW to read as follows:
Before
constructing or purchasing any equipment listed in section 2(1) of this act for
wildfire suppression, the department shall compare the per use cost of the
equipment to be purchased or constructed with the per use cost of utilizing
private equipment. If utilizing private equipment is more effective and
efficient, the department may not construct or purchase the equipment but shall
utilize the equipment from the lowest responsive bidder.
Sec.
4. RCW
76.04.145 and 1986 c 100 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
There is hereby created a forest fire advisory board, consisting of ((seven))
eight members who shall represent private and public forest landowners,
private contractors of fire suppression equipment, supplies, and services,
and other interested segments of the public. The members shall be appointed by
the commissioner of public lands and shall serve at the commissioner's
pleasure, without compensation.
(2)
The duties of the forest fire advisory board shall be strictly advisory and
shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:
(a)
Reviewing forest fire prevention and suppression policies of the department;
(b)
Monitoring expenditures from and recoveries for the landowner contingency
forest fire suppression account;
(c)
Recommending appropriate assessments and allocations for establishment and
replenishment of the account based upon the proportionate expenditures
necessitated by participating landowner operations in western and eastern
Washington;
(d)
Recommending to the department appropriate rules or amendments to existing
rules and reviewing nonemergency rules affecting the protection of forest lands
from fire, including reasonable alternative means or procedures for the
abatement, isolation, or reduction of forest fire hazards.
(3)
Except where an emergency exists, all rules concerning matters listed in
subsection (2)(d) of this section shall be adopted by the department after
consultation with the forest fire advisory board.
