HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1761

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to mutual aid and interlocal agreements.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for mutual aid and interlocal agreements.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by  Representatives D. Schmidt, Scott, Talcott and Lambert).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  2/21/97, 2/25/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/6/97, 94‑0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Each county and city is required to establish a local organization for emergency management and prepare a local emergency management plan.  The adjutant general may allow two or more counties or cities to establish a single local organization.

The adjutant general develops a state emergency management program.

The director of each local organization for emergency management may enter into mutual aid arrangements with other public and private agencies in the state for aid and assistance in case of a disaster too great to be dealt with unassisted.  These mutual aid arrangements must be consistent with the state emergency management plan and program.

If approved by the Governor, the adjutant general and directors of local organizations for emergency management may enter into mutual aid arrangements with emergency management agencies or organizations in other states for reciprocal emergency management aid and assistance in case of a disaster too great to be dealt with unassisted.

Summary of Bill:  The existing statute providing for interstate and intrastate mutual aid agreements is repealed and a new statute with somewhat similar provisions is enacted.  Much of the detail from the existing statute relating to interstate civil defense compacts is not included in the new statute.

A mutual aid agreement or compact may include conditions when the mutual aid is provided, including: (1) which authorities may request and receive assistance and the conditions when a request may be made; (2) how a request for aid is approved; (3) control over personnel and equipment that is provided; and (4) situations when the jurisdiction providing the aid may withdraw the aid.

A mutual aid agreement or compact must define terms of reimbursement and privileges and immunities enjoyed by both the jurisdiction providing the aid and individuals from the jurisdiction providing the aid.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This cleans up the law and removes language that would keep us from entering into compacts with other states for mutual aid agreements.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Dave Schmidt, prime sponsor; and Linda Burton-Ramsey, Emergency Management, Military Department.