HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2091
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Relations
Capital Budget
Title: An act relating to establishing a fallen firefighter memorial.
Brief Description: Establishing a fallen firefighter memorial.
Sponsors: Representatives Bronoske, Griffey, Leavitt, Fitzgibbon, Chapman, Reed, Ormsby, Ramel, Callan, Rule, Timmons, Bergquist, Goodman, Rude, Fosse, Nance, Ryu, Schmidt, Stearns, Waters, Paul, Reeves and Kloba; by request of Department of Natural Resources.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Relations: 1/24/24, 1/30/24 [DPS];
Capital Budget: 2/2/24 [DPS(SGOV)].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Establishes a fallen firefighter memorial on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. 
  • Creates a nonappropriated account for the deposit of gifts, grants, and endowments to support the establishment and maintenance of the memorial.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL RELATIONS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 7 members:Representatives Ramos, Chair; Stearns, Vice Chair; Cheney, Ranking Minority Member; Christian, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Gregerson, Low and Mena.
Staff: Connor Schiff (786-7093).
Background:

The Capitol Campus in Olympia is home to many memorials for various events and groups of people.  These include the World War II Memorial, the Law Enforcement Memorial, the Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Memorial, the Medal of Honor Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial.
Summary of Substitute Bill:

A fallen firefighter memorial is established on the Capitol Campus.  Design and construction of the memorial must follow the major works requirements administered by the Department of Enterprise Services (DES).  The State Capitol Committee must work with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and statewide organizations representing firefighters in reviewing the construction of the memorial.  The DNR must partner with the DES on the design, establishment, and maintenance of the memorial.  The DNR and the DES may partner with nonprofit groups or another state agency to ensure the memorial is utilized by the public and firefighter community.  The DES must provide and fund routine maintenance of the memorial.  The DNR must provide nonroutine maintenance of the memorial, including engraving of new names, in accordance with any guidance established by the DES.


The Fallen Firefighter Memorial Account (Account) is created in the custody of the State Treasurer to support the design, construction, permitting, and maintenance of the memorial.  The Commissioner of Public Lands and the DNR may solicit and accept funds for the establishment and maintenance of the memorial.  The Account is subject to allotment but not appropriation, and only the DNR may authorize expenditures.  The DNR may adopt rules governing the receipt and use of funds in the Account. 
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is required to partner with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) on the design, establishment, and maintenance of the memorial.  The DES is required to provide and fund routine maintenance of the memorial.  The DNR is required to provide nonroutine maintenance of the memorial in accordance with any guidance established by the DES.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.  New fiscal note requested on January 31, 2024.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There should be a place for families and communities to commemorate and mourn the lives lost in the line of duty.  The loss of a firefighter is devastating to a family and community.  Communities across the state have been affected by firefighters making the ultimate sacrifice.  A memorial to commemorate firefighters and honor those who have bravely served is overdue.  Firefighters are ready to answer any call at any time.  The intent of the memorial is to also commemorate individuals whose lives were lost due to occupational hazards.  Firefighters face many dangers that cannot be seen or touched and often face health issues down the road.  We honor fallen firefighters by learning from them.  A tribute to firefighters on the Capitol Campus would allow visitors to also learn from them.  The Department of Natural Resources is fully prepared and honored to make the memorial a reality. 

 

(Opposed) None. 
Persons Testifying:

Representative Dan Bronoske, prime sponsor; Patrick McElligott, International Association of Firefighters Local 31- Tacoma Fire; Bud Sizemore, Washington State Council of Firefighters; Jeff Faucett, Washington Fire Chiefs; and Brian Considine and George Geissler, Department of Natural Resources.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET
Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 27 members:Representatives Tharinger, Chair; Callan, Vice Chair; Hackney, Vice Chair; Abbarno, Ranking Minority Member; McClintock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Steele, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alvarado, Bateman, Cheney, Christian, Dye, Eslick, Farivar, Fosse, Kloba, Kretz, Maycumber, Morgan, Mosbrucker, Orwall, Peterson, Reed, Rule, Sandlin, Shavers, Stearns and Waters.
Staff: John Wilson-Tepeli (786-7115).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Capital Budget Compared to Recommendation of Committee On State Government & Tribal Relations:

No new changes were recommended.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Since 1891 about 300 firefighters have died in the line of duty, including a firefighter who died in the line of duty last week in Walla Walla.  There should be a place for families and communities to commemorate and mourn the lives lost in the line of duty.  The loss of a firefighter is devastating to a family and community.  Communities across the state have been affected by firefighters making the ultimate sacrifice.  This memorial has been in the development process for a long time and is reflective of broad stakeholder consensus and support.  We honor fallen firefighters by learning from them.  A tribute to firefighters on the Capitol Campus would allow visitors to also learn from them.  The Department of Natural Resources is well-situated to take on this work and honored to make the memorial a reality.  There is a plan to ask for capital budget resources to get the project started and the total cost is estimated at approximately $5 million.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Representative Dan Bronoske, prime sponsor; Brian Considine and George Geissler, Department of Natural Resources; Jeff Faucett, Washington Fire Chiefs; and Bud Sizemore, Washington State Council of Firefighters.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.