BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to providing for the adjutant general to establish rules concerning the accuracy of location information derived from enhanced 911 telephone systems; amending RCW 43.43.934; adding a new section to chapter 38.52 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 the citizens of the state increasingly rely on the dependability of enhanced 911, a system that allows the person answering an emergency call to determine the location of the emergency immediately without the caller needing to speak. The legislature further finds that the degree of accuracy of the displayed information must be adequate to permit rapid location of the caller while taking into consideration variables specific to local conditions. The legislature further finds that it is appropriate that rules permitting local fire agencies to evaluate and approve the accuracy of location information relating to their service areas be adopted.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:

The adjutant general shall establish rules on minimum information requirements of automatic location identification for the purposes of enhanced 911 emergency service. Such rules shall permit the chief of a local fire department or a chief fire protection officer or such other person as may be designated by the governing body of a city or county to take into consideration local circumstances when approving the accuracy of location information generated when calls are made to 911 from facilities within his or her service area.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.43.934 and 1998 c 245 s 65 are each amended to read as follows:

Except for matters relating to the statutory duties of the chief of the Washington state patrol that are to be carried out through the director of fire protection, the board shall have the responsibility of developing a comprehensive state policy regarding fire protection services. In carrying out its duties, the board shall:

(1)(a) Adopt a state fire training and education master plan that allows to the maximum feasible extent for negotiated agreements: (i) With the state board for community and technical colleges to provide academic, vocational, and field training programs for the fire service and (ii) with the higher education coordinating board and the state colleges and universities to provide instructional programs requiring advanced training, especially in command and management skills;

(b) Adopt minimum standards for each level of responsibility among personnel with fire suppression, prevention, inspection, and investigation responsibilities that assure continuing assessment of skills and are flexible enough to meet emerging technologies. With particular respect to training for fire investigations, the master plan shall encourage cross training in appropriate law enforcement skills. To meet special local needs, fire agencies may adopt more stringent requirements than those adopted by the state;

(c) Cooperate with the common schools, technical and community colleges, institutions of higher education, and any department or division of the state, or of any county or municipal corporation in establishing and maintaining instruction in fire service training and education in accordance with any act of congress and legislation enacted by the legislature in pursuance thereof and in establishing, building, and operating training and education facilities.

Industrial fire departments and private fire investigators may participate in training and education programs under this chapter for a reasonable fee established by rule;

(d) Develop and adopt a master plan for constructing, equipping, maintaining, and operating necessary fire service training and education facilities subject to the provisions of chapter 43.19 RCW; and

(e) Develop and adopt a master plan for the purchase, lease, or other acquisition of real estate necessary for fire service training and education facilities in a manner provided by law.

(2) In addition to its responsibilities for fire service training, the board shall:

(a) Adopt a state fire protection master plan;

(b) Monitor fire protection in the state and develop objectives and priorities to improve fire protection for the state's citizens including: (i) The comprehensiveness of state and local inspections required by law for fire and life safety; (ii) the level of skills and training of inspectors, as well as needs for additional training; and (iii) the efforts of local, regional, and state inspection agencies to improve coordination and reduce duplication among inspection efforts;

(d) Provide representation for local fire protection services to the governor in state-level fire protection planning matters such as, but not limited to, hazardous materials control;

(e) Recommend to the ((~~director of community, trade, and economic development~~)) adjutant general rules on minimum information requirements of automatic location identification for the purposes of enhanced 911 emergency service;

(f) Seek and solicit grants, gifts, bequests, devises, and matching funds for use in furthering the objectives and duties of the board, and establish procedures for administering them;

(g) Promote mutual aid and disaster planning for fire services in this state;

(h) Assure the dissemination of information concerning the amount of fire damage including that damage caused by arson, and its causes and prevention; and

(i) Implement any legislation enacted by the legislature to meet the requirements of any acts of congress that apply to this section.

(3) In carrying out its statutory duties, the board shall give particular consideration to the appropriate roles to be played by the state and by local jurisdictions with fire protection responsibilities. Any determinations on the division of responsibility shall be made in consultation with local fire officials and their representatives.

To the extent possible, the board shall encourage development of regional units along compatible geographic, population, economic, and fire risk dimensions. Such regional units may serve to: (a) Reinforce coordination among state and local activities in fire service training, reporting, inspections, and investigations; (b) identify areas of special need, particularly in smaller jurisdictions with inadequate resources; (c) assist the state in its oversight responsibilities; (d) identify funding needs and options at both the state and local levels; and (e) provide models for building local capacity in fire protection programs.