HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6276

                      As Passed House:

                      February 29, 2000

Title:  An act relating to authorizing inclusion of cities and towns within emergency medical service districts.

Brief Description:  Authorizing inclusion of cities and towns within emergency medical service districts.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senator Snyder).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Local Government:  2/17/00, 2/24/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/29/00, 97-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

CAllows emergency medical service districts created by county legislative authorities to include cities or towns if the city or town legislative authority agrees to be included.

CSpecifies the governing body of an emergency medical service district including a city or town is the county legislative authority or the governing body established by an interlobar agreement.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Mulliken, Republican Co-Chair; Scott, Democratic Co-Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; Edwards; Ericksen; Fisher and Fortunato.

Staff:  Caroleen Dineen (786-7156).

Background:

Counties are authorized to create by ordinance an emergency medical service district.  These districts provide emergency medical services within unincorporated areas of the county.  These districts may be created after a public hearing and must be based on a finding that the creation of the district is in the public interest.  An emergency medical service district is governed by the county legislative authority.

Emergency medical service districts are quasi-municipal corporations with property taxing authority up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.  An emergency medical service district's tax levies must be approved by a majority vote of at least three-fifths of the district's registered voters.

Summary of Bill:

Emergency medical service districts may include cities or towns.  The governing body of any city or town included within an emergency medical service district must approve its inclusion within the district.   An emergency medical service district including a city or town may be governed by either the county legislative authority or as provided in an interlobar agreement adopted pursuant to statutory requirements.

The voters of an emergency medical service district must be registered voters residing within the district.

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.