SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1166

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Local Government, March 21, 2017

Ways & Means, March 30, 2017

Title: An act relating to fire protection district tax levies.

Brief Description: Concerning fire protection district tax levies.

Sponsors: Representatives Griffey and Springer.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/07/17, 86-11.

Committee Activity: Local Government: 3/16/17, 3/21/17 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/30/17 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Eliminates the requirement that a fire district must employ, or contract for the services of, at least one full-time, paid employee in order to impose a third regular property tax levy.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Short, Chair; Angel, Vice Chair; Takko, Ranking Minority Member; Palumbo and Sheldon.

Staff: Alex Fairfortune (786-7416)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Braun, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Vice Chair, Capital Budget ; Ranker, Ranking Minority Member; Rolfes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Operating Budget; Frockt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Capital Budget; Bailey, Becker, Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Fain, Hasegawa, Keiser, Miloscia, Padden, Pedersen, Rivers, Schoesler, Warnick and Zeiger.

Staff: Dean Carlson (786-7305)

Background: Fire protection districts (districts) are municipal corporations established to provide fire protection and emergency medical services, primarily in unincorporated areas outside of cities. Every district is authorized to impose two separate regular property tax levies, each of which cannot exceed $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. In addition, a district may impose a third regular property tax levy of up to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value if the district either:

has one or more full time, paid employees; or
contracts with another municipal corporation for the services of at least one full time, paid employee.

Summary of Bill: The additional employment criteria that districts must meet to impose a third regular property tax levy is removed, allowing districts without a full time, paid employee or employee service contract to impose a third levy of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Local Government): PRO: Today, wildfires are such a huge issue that it takes more money to outfit volunteer firefighters. It doesn't make sense to have to hire an employee that is not needed in order to get additional revenue to fight fires.

Persons Testifying (Local Government): PRO: Representative Dan Griffey, Prime Sponsor; Ryan Spiller, Washington Fire Commissioners.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Local Government): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): No public hearing was held.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): N/A.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): N/A.