SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1556

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           State & Local Government, March 31, 1999

Title:  An act relating to reporting of deaths or injuries from fire.

Brief Description:  Increasing timeliness of fire death reports.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hatfield, Bush, Romero, McDonald, Dickerson, Ballasiotes, Scott, Radcliff, Poulsen, Delvin, Constantine, Mastin and Murray; by request of Washington State Patrol.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/29/99, 3/31/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn and Kline.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The chief of each city or town fire department, or the sheriff or other designated official having jurisdiction outside a city or town fire department, must report statistical information and data to the Chief of the Washington State Patrol (through the Director of Fire Protection) on each fire occurring in the official=s jurisdiction.  The information and data reported must be analyzed, compiled in a report, and distributed annually by May 1 to each chief fire official in the state.

Summary of Amended Bill:  All fire related deaths must be reported within two business days to the Director of Fire Protection for the purposes of compiling the statistical report.  The deadline for releasing the report is extended to July 1 of each year.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The 48-hour reporting limit is changed to two business days.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  We need fire related deaths reported as soon as possible.  This will help prevent future loss of lives.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Hatfield, prime sponsor; Capt. Eric Robertson, WSP-State Fire Marshal.