Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HB 2097

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Changing the distribution to and allocation of the fire service training account.

Sponsors: Representatives Conway, Sells, P. Sullivan, Williams, Appleton, Campbell, Green, Dickerson, Darneille, McCune, Ericks, Simpson, Kenney, McDermott and Ormsby.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the amount of funding deposited into the Fire Service Training Account to 35 percent of all the moneys received by the state from fire insurance premiums.
  • Directs that 28.5 percent of the funding received from fire insurance premiums in the Fire Service Training Account be allocated for a firefighter joint apprenticeship training program.

Hearing Date: 2/14/07

Staff: Alex MacBain (786-7288).

Background:

In 1999, the Legislature established the Basic Firefighter Training Program. The program is intended to provide fire departments with financial support to facilitate and enable the training of firefighters to minimum safety requirements. The program reimburses fire districts and city fire departments $3 per hour up to 200 hours for every firefighter enrolled in training. The Fire Protection Policy Board oversees the training program.

The Basic Firefighter Training Program receives funding from the portion of the fire insurance premiums tax revenue that is deposited into the Fire Service Training Account (Account). The premium taxes paid on fire insurance premiums are generally distributed as follows:

40 percent–Volunteer Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund
25 percent–cities with full-time fire departments
20 percent–Fire Service Training Account
15 percent–state General Fund

The distribution to the Account was $2.4 million in fiscal year 2005 and $2.6 million in fiscal year 2006.

Summary of Bill:

The portion of state fire insurance premium tax deposited in the Account is increased to 35 percent, and the 15 percent distribution to the state General Fund is eliminated.

Of the fire insurance premium funds in the Account, 28.5 percent is allocated for a Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Training Program (Program). Estimated allocations for the Program are $1.4 million in fiscal year 2008 and $1.5 million in fiscal year 2009.

Obsolete provisions related to allowable expenditures from the account in the current biennium are deleted.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 7, 2007.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.