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

Sponsors: Senators Eide, Keiser, Marr, Jacobsen, Franklin, Benton and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Fire Service Training Account (Account) was established in 1986 to fund fire training activities. Distributions from the Account reimburse fire districts and city fire departments for training activities and fund training activities at the Fire Training Academy (Academy).

The Account receives revenue from two sources: (1) training fees paid to the Washington State Patrol by local fire services and other entities for training at the Academy; and (2) a portion of the premium taxes paid on fire insurance premiums. The premium taxes are distributed as follows:

• 40 percent – volunteer fire fighters' relief and pension fund;
• 25 percent – cities with full-time fire departments;
• 20 percent – Fire Service Training Account; and
• 15 percent – state General Fund.

Revenue distributions to the account from the insurance premium tax were $2.4 million in FY 2005 and $2.6 million in FY 2006.

Summary: The Washington State Patrol is authorized to contract with the Washington State Firefighters Apprenticeship Trust to operate the firefighter joint apprenticeship training program. Appropriations from the state General Fund to the Fire Service Training Account are to be used for the firefighter joint apprenticeship training program.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      94   0   (House amended)
Senate      46   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   July 22, 2007