SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2630

BYHouse Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Jesernig, R. Meyers, Ballard, Hargrove, Padden, H. Myers, Moyer, Rayburn, D. Sommers, Wineberry, Hankins, Inslee, Dorn, G. Fisher, R. Fisher, R. King, Appelwick, Vekich, Sprenkle, Wang, Crane, Grant, Rasmussen, Zellinsky, McLean, Baugher, Kremen, Walker, Wood, Rector, Cooper, Dellwo, Sayan, Gallagher, Schmidt, Peery, Fraser, Basich, Prentice, Leonard, Pruitt, Scott, Phillips, Winsley, Betrozoff, Jones, Ebersole, Brekke, Morris, Braddock, Todd, Spanel and Anderson)

Abrogating the professional rescuer doctrine.

House Committe on Judiciary

Senate Committee on Law & Justice

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 23, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Madsen, Niemi, Patrick, Rinehart, Talmadge, Thorsness.

Senate Staff:Dick Armstrong (786-7460)

                  February 26, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE, FEBRUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under the common-law professional rescuers doctrine, police officers and fire fighters injured during a rescue cannot recover in tort from a person who negligently created the situation necessitating the rescue, if the danger is typical of those involved in the rescue operation.

SUMMARY:

The professional rescuers doctrine is inapplicable to negligence that causes injury to a rescuer when the negligence is subsequent to and independent of any negligence that gave rise to the need for the rescue.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Senate Committee - Testified: Andrea Dahl, Association of Washington Cities