Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Local Government & Housing Committee

HB 1561

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.

Background:

Overview of Fire Protection Districts.

Fire protection districts (districts) are created to provide fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency medical services within a district's boundaries. Fire protection districts are governed by a board of commissioners consisting of either three or five members. The districts finance their activities and facilities by imposing regular property taxes, excess voter-approved property tax levies, and benefit charges.

Generally, districts serve residents outside of cities or towns, except when cities and towns have been annexed into a district or when the district continues to provide service to a newly incorporated area.

Annexation of a City by a Fire Protection District.

A city or town adjacent to a district may be annexed to such district provided the population of the city or town does not exceed 100,000. Such annexation is initiated through the adoption of an ordinance by the legislative authority of the city or town approving annexation into the district and stating a finding that the public interest is served by such annexation. The annexation must then be authorized through the concurrence of the district's Board of Fire Commissioners. Following such approval of the annexation, notification must be sent to the governing body of the county or counties in which both the district and city/town are located. The pertinent county legislative authorities must then call a special election in the city or town to be annexed, as well as the district, so as to allow the voters in each jurisdiction to determine the annexation issue. The annexation is complete if a majority of voters in each jurisdiction vote in favor of annexation.

In accordance with specified limitations, both the district and the city are authorized to levy taxes related to district fire protection services.

After the passage of three years following a district's annexation of a city, the city has the option of withdrawing from the district. Such withdrawal requires that the legislative body of the city approve a resolution proposing the withdrawal which is then submitted for voter approval at the next general election.

An employee of the annexed city's fire department is entitled to continued employment with the district following annexation, provided:

at the time of annexation the city employee was principally employed in performing the same powers, duties, and functions as those required by the district; and
the employee meets minimum position requirements and is capable of performing his or her duties as required by the district.

Subject to specified requirements and conditions, eligible fire department employees of the annexed city who become employees of the district may transfer into the district's civil service system.

Summary of Bill:

A district is authorized to annex part of a city or town that is located in two counties (partial city annexation). Such annexation must meet specified substantive and procedural requirements. The substantive requirements are as follows:

the part of the city to be annexed must be adjacent to the boundaries of the district;
the population of the proposed annexation area must be greater than 5,000 but less than 10,000;
that portion of the city to be annexed must lie entirely within only one of the two counties; and
that portion of the city to be annexed must contain at least 80 percent of the population of the entire city.

The procedural requirements for the completion of a partial city annexation are the same as for the annexation of an entire city, including the approval of the governing bodies of the city and the district, as well as voter approval.

Creates regulatory provisions pertaining to a partial city annexation that are identical to those applicable to a district following the annexation of an entire city. Such provisions include those pertaining to:

taxation;
methods for a partial city to withdraw from a district; and
the employment rights of fire department personnel working within the partially annexed city.