BILL REQ. #:  H-3650.1 

Read first time 01/11/2006.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to allowing volunteer fire personnel to hold elective or appointed office; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 52.30 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A volunteer member of any fire department who does not serve as fire chief for the department may be:
     (a) A candidate for elective public office and serve in that public office if elected; or
     (b) Appointed to any public office and serve in that public office if appointed.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "volunteer" means a member of any fire department who performs voluntarily any assigned or authorized duties on behalf of or at the direction of the fire department without receiving compensation or consideration for performing such duties.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "compensation" and "consideration" do not include any benefits the volunteer may have accrued or is accruing under chapter 41.24 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 52.30 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A volunteer member of any fire protection district who does not serve as fire chief for the district may be:
     (a) A candidate for elective public office and serve in that public office if elected; or
     (b) Appointed to any public office and serve in that public office if appointed.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "volunteer" means a member of any fire protection district who performs voluntarily any assigned or authorized duties on behalf of or at the direction of the fire protection district without receiving compensation or consideration for performing such duties.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "compensation" and "consideration" do not include any benefits the volunteer may have accrued or is accruing under chapter 41.24 RCW.