HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5760

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to fire protection districts.

Brief Description:  Allowing unincorporated territory adjacent to a fire protection district to be annexed.

Sponsors:  Senators Goings, Haugen, McCaslin and Patterson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Local Government:  3/25/99, 3/29/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Changes the description of unincorporated property subject to annexation by a fire protection district under the election method from contiguous to adjacent property.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Mulliken, Republican Co-Chair; Scott, Democratic Co-Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; Ericksen; Fisher and Fortunato.

Staff:  Caroleen Dineen (786-7156).

Background:

Fire protection districts are created to provide fire prevention, fire suppression and emergency medical services within the districts' boundaries.    Fire protection districts are governed by a board of commissioners consisting of either three or five members.

Fire protection districts serve residents outside of cities or towns, except when cities and towns have been annexed into a fire protection district or when the district continues to provide service to a newly incorporated area.  The districts finance their activities and facilities by imposing regular property taxes, excess voter-approved property tax levies, and benefit charges. 

A fire protection district may annex contiguous unincorporated territory.  Under the election method, an annexation may occur if a petition signed by 15 percent of qualified registered voters in the proposed annexation territory is approved by the fire protection district commissioners, the county legislative authority or county boundary review board, and the voters of the proposed annexation territory.  An annexation under the petition method may occur if a petition signed by owners of at least 60 percent of the proposed annexation territory results in an annexation resolution by the fire protection district. 

If a city or town with a population fewer than 100,000 and contiguous to a fire protection district seeks annexation to the district, a special election on the annexation is held within the city or town and the district.

Summary of Bill:

For unincorporated property annexed according to the election method, the description of property subject to fire protection district annexation is amended.  A fire protection district may annex territory under this method if it is adjacent to the district and not within any city, town or other fire protection district.  The description of property subject to annexation under other methods (i.e., contiguous unincorporated area or contiguous city or town) is not changed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.