SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5574
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
State & Local Government, February 11, 1999
Title: An act relating to reporting of deaths or injuries from fire.
Brief Description: Increasing timeliness of fire death reports.
Sponsors: Senators Kohl‑Welles, Hale, Haugen, Costa, Patterson and Winsley; by request of Washington State Patrol.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: State & Local Government: 2/8/99, 2/11/99 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE
& LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5574 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.
Staff: Eugene Green (786-7405)
Background: The chief of each city or town fire department, or the sheriff or other designated official having jurisdiction outside a city or town fire department, must report statistical information and data to the chief of the Washington State Patrol (through the director of fire protection) on each fire occurring in the official=s jurisdiction. The information and data reported must be analyzed, compiled in a report, and distributed annually by May 1 to each chief fire official in the state.
Summary of Substitute Bill: Fire officials, within two business days must report to the chief of the Washington State Patrol any death resulting from fire. The statistical information reported to the chief must be distributed annually by June 1.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute calls for the reporting to occur within two business days, rather than 48 hours.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The Director of State Fire Protection wants the reporting of fire-related deaths to be as timely as possible. This will benefit all fire departments and fire protection districts.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Eric Robertson, WSP (pro).