HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2747

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to modifying the use of funds in the fire service training account.

Brief Description: Modifying the use of funds in the fire service training account.

Sponsors: House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representative Hansen; by request of Washington State Patrol).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Capital Budget: 2/1/12 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/11/12, 92-0.

Passed Senate: 3/1/12, 47-0.

Passed Legislature.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Dunshee, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Warnick, Ranking Minority Member; Zeiger, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Jinkins, Lytton, Pearson, Smith, Tharinger and Wylie.

Staff: Steve Masse (786-7115).

Background:

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has authority for: (1) patrolling Washington state highways; (2) providing security for the Governor; (3) the Washington State Crime Lab; (4) the Investigative Services Bureau; and (5) the State Fire Marshal.

The State Fire Marshall is responsible for providing fire and life safety inspections in licensed care occupancies including nursing homes, boarding homes, group homes, hospitals, and childcare centers. The State Fire Marshall also may conduct construction plan review on new school construction and when local jurisdictions request assistance. They license the fireworks and the fire sprinkler industries, and certify fire sprinkler industry workers and cigarette manufacturers; train Washington's fire service, in the field and at the Washington State Fire Training Academy (Academy); and coordinate fire service resources during large fires and disasters through the state's Fire Resource Mobilization Plan.

The Academy is located in North Bend, Washington. The Academy provides training for firefighters and public safety officials as well as private brigades and the maritime industry. The Academy also provides training for hazardous spill cleanup. The facility is comprised of an administrative building, three classrooms, dormitories, and support facilities.

The Fire Services Training Account (Account) consists of: (1) funds received by the WSP for fire service training; (2) all grants and bequests accepted by the WSP; (3) 20 percent of all moneys received by the state on fire insurance premiums; and (4) State General Fund moneys appropriated into the Account by the Legislature.The Account may only be used for fire service training and for contracting with the Washington State Firefighters Apprenticeship Trust for the operation of the Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Training Program. During the 2011-13 biennium, the Legislature amended the Account in the back of the capital budget allowing funds to be used for school fire prevention activities within the WSP, and for predesign and repairs of the burn building at the Academy.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The use of the Account is expanded to include capital projects at the Academy, and school fire prevention activities within the WSP, as long as it does not affect training for volunteer and career firefighters.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Fire training at the Academy is not available anywhere else in the state. The facilities are very old and in need of repair. Providing flexibility of uses of the Account will help to make urgent repairs.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Hansen, prime sponsor; Jason Berry, Washington State Patrol; Ed Mund, Washington State Firefighters Association; Mike Brown, Washington Fire Chiefs; and Ryan Spiller, Washington Fire Commissioners.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.