SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5824

As Passed Senate, March 12, 2003

Title: An act relating to allowing rural fire protection districts to contract with cities for ambulance services and impose a monthly utility service charge on each developed residential property located in the fire protection district.

Brief Description: Allowing rural fire protection districts to contract with cities for ambulance services and impose a monthly utility service charge on each developed residential property located in the fire protection district.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette and Horn).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/26/03, 3/4/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/12/03, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5824 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Fairley, Horn, Kastama, McCaslin and Reardon.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: When a city or town determines that the city or town, or a substantial portion thereof, is not adequately served by existing private ambulance service, the city or town may provide for the establishment of a system of ambulance service to be operated as a public utility of the city or town.

Summary of Bill: A rural fire protection district can enter into a contract with a contiguous city allowing the city to furnish ambulance services to the district. The contract cannot provide for the establishment of ambulance service that would compete with any existing, private ambulance service. A rural district is one where the population density of the entire district is ten or fewer persons per square mile.

The district may impose a monthly utility service charge on each developed residential property located in the district and served by the contract in an amount equal to the amount imposed by the city on similar city developed residential property. Developed residential property includes single-family residences, apartments, manufactured homes, mobile homes, and trailers.

The district may contract with any contiguous city or any other governmental entity for the billing and collection services related to the monthly utility service charge. A city providing ambulance services to a district may charge a reasonable rate to individuals actually using the services.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Grant funding for ambulance service in very rural fire protection districts is running out and the districts need another option to continue providing ambulance service.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Steve Jenkins, Mayor of Bridgeport; Stuart Dezellem, Bob Fischer, Douglas Co. Fire District #7.