Z-0623.2

SENATE BILL 5946

State of Washington
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
BySenators Van De Wege, Braun, Billig, Boehnke, Conway, Dozier, Hunt, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Mullet, Nobles, Rivers, Saldaña, Short, Stanford, Torres, Valdez, Wagoner, and L. Wilson; by request of Department of Natural Resources
Prefiled 01/03/24.Read first time 01/08/24.Referred to Committee on State Government & Elections.
AN ACT Relating to establishing a fallen firefighter memorial; adding new sections to chapter 43.34 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. The legislature intends to establish a fallen firefighter memorial on the capitol campus grounds to recognize the sacrifice of firefighters who have died in the line of duty giving unselfish service to their communities and the state.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.34 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A memorial is established on the capitol campus to honor firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The design and construction of such a memorial must follow the major works requirements administered by the department of enterprise services.
(2) The state capitol committee, or any subcommittee thereof, must work with the department of natural resources and statewide organizations representing firefighters in its role reviewing the building of the fallen firefighter memorial.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.34 RCW to read as follows:
(1)(a) The fallen firefighter memorial account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts directed to the account from federal funds, gifts, or grants from private or public sectors, foundations, or other sources must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the design, siting, permitting, construction, maintenance, dedication, continuation, or creation of educational materials related to the placement of this memorial on the capitol campus. Only the department of natural resources, with the recommendation from the Washington state firefighter memorial foundation, may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
(b) The purpose of the account is to support the establishment and maintenance of the fallen firefighter memorial. The commissioner of public lands and department of natural resources may solicit and accept moneys from gifts, grants, or endowments for this purpose.
(2) The department of natural resources is authorized to partner with nonprofit groups or foundations, or another state agency, if needed, to ensure the memorial is utilized by the public and the firefighter community to recognize, remember, and honor the sacrifice of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
(3) The department of natural resources may adopt rules governing the receipt and use of funds in the account.
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