HB 1517-S2.E - DIGEST

(AS OF HOUSE 2ND READING 2/16/04)

Declares an intent to set standards for addressing the occupational safety and health of substantially career fire department employees, and to specify performance measures applicable to response time objectives for certain major services.

Acknowledges the efforts of the international city/county management association, the international association of fire chiefs, and the national fire protection association for the organization and deployment of resources for fire departments. The arrival of first responders with automatic external defibrillator capability before the onset of brain death, and the arrival of adequate fire suppression resources before flash-over is a critical event during the mitigation of an emergency, and is in the public's best interest.

Does not, and is not intended to, in any way modify or limit the authority of the department of labor and industries to adopt rules under chapter 49.17 RCW applying to fire departments or otherwise addressing the occupational safety and health of fire fighters.

Requires every fire department to evaluate its level of service and deployment delivery and response time objectives on an annual basis. The evaluations shall be based on data relating to level of service, deployment, and the achievement of each response time objective in each geographic area within the jurisdiction of the fire department.

Provides that, beginning in 2006, every fire department shall issue an annual written report which shall be based on the annual evaluations required by this act.