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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.The text
of the following section has been vetoed by the Governor. It is noted in bold
italic.
*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.
*Sec. 4
was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.
Passed
the House March 13, 1995.
Passed
the Senate April 7, 1995.
Approved by the Governor April 19, 1995, with the
exception of certain items which were vetoed.
Filed in
Office of Secretary of State April 19, 1995.
Note: Governor's
explanation of partial veto is as follows:
"I am returning
herewith, without my approval as to section 4, Substitute House Bill No. 1917
entitled:
"AN ACT Relating to emergency response services;"
Substitute House Bill No. 1917 requires the
Department of Natural Resources to contract privately for the provision of
certain fire suppression equipment when such utilization is efficient and
effective. This is an appropriate policy direction and, I am advised by the
Commissioner of Public Lands, is in keeping with current departmental practice.
Section 4 adds a representative of private
contractors of fire suppression equipment, supplies, and service to the Forest
Fire Advisory Board. This board has the primary responsibility to review
expenditures from, and recommend increases to, the Landowner Contingency Fund.
This fund is established through a fee on landowners. Representation by this
interest group is inconsistent with the duties of the Forest Fire Advisory
Board and is an inappropriate forum for advice from equipment contractors.
Moreover, adding this representative would unnecessarily increase board costs.
For these reasons, I have vetoed section 4 of
Substitute House Bill No. 1917.
With the
exception of section 4, Substitute House Bill No. 1917 is approved."
