BILL REQ. #:  S-3760.1 

Read first time 01/14/10.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to cities and towns annexed to fire protection districts; and amending RCW 52.02.020 and 52.04.061.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 52.02.020 and 2005 c 281 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Fire protection districts for the provision of fire prevention services, fire suppression services, emergency medical services, and for the protection of life and property ((in areas outside of cities and towns, except where the cities and towns have been annexed into a fire protection district or where the district is continuing service pursuant to RCW 35.02.202,)) are authorized to be established as provided in this title.
     (2) In addition to other services authorized under this section, fire protection districts that share a common border with Canada and are surrounded on three sides by water or are bounded on the north by Bremerton, on the west by Mason county, on the south by Pierce county, and on the east by the Puget Sound, may also establish or participate in the provision of health clinic services.

Sec. 2   RCW 52.04.061 and 2009 c 115 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A city or town lying adjacent to a fire protection district may be annexed to such district if at the time of the initiation of annexation the population of the city or town is ((100,000)) 300,000 or less. The legislative authority of the city or town may initiate annexation by the adoption of an ordinance stating an intent to join the fire protection district and finding that the public interest will be served thereby. If the board of fire commissioners of the fire protection district shall concur in the annexation, notification thereof shall be transmitted to the legislative authority or authorities of the counties in which the city or town and the district are situated.
     (2) When a city or town is located in two counties, and at least eighty percent of the population resides in one county, all of that portion of the city lying in that county and encompassing eighty percent of the population may be annexed to a fire protection district if at the time of the initiation of annexation the proposed area lies adjacent to a fire protection district, and the population of the proposed area is greater than five thousand but less than ten thousand. The legislative authority of the city or town may initiate annexation by the adoption of an ordinance stating an intent to join the fire protection district and finding that the public interest will be served thereby. If the board of fire commissioners of the fire protection district shall concur in the annexation, notification thereof must be transmitted to the legislative authority or authorities of the counties in which the city or town and the district are situated.