HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2143

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to volunteer ambulance personnel.

Brief Description:  Concerning volunteer ambulance personnel.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by  Representatives Parlette and Chandler).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  3/4/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/12/97, 96‑0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Murray; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:  Any city or town may adopt a resolution by a two-thirds vote of its full legislative body authorizing any of its members to serve as volunteer fire fighters or reserve law enforcement officers and receive the same compensation, insurance, and other benefits other volunteers or reserve officers receive.

Summary of Bill:  Any city or town is authorized to adopt a resolution by a two-thirds vote of its full legislative body authorizing any of its members to serve as volunteer ambulance personnel and receive the same compensation, insurance, and other benefits as other volunteers.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  It is hard to get people in small communities to run for office.  In Soap Lake two council members were volunteer ambulance drivers, but had to resign because there was no exception allowing them to serve in both positions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representatives Parlette and Chandler, sponsors; and Dave Williams, Association of Washington Cities.