SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2493

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

State & Local Government, February 25, 2002

Title:  An act relating to volunteer fire fighters.

Brief Description:  Removing the limitation on the number of volunteer fire fighters.

Sponsors:  Representatives Jackley, Mulliken, Dunshee, Ogden, Dunn, Wood and Casada.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/21/02, 2/25/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Gardner, Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Keiser, Kline, T. Sheldon and Swecker.

Staff:  Mac Nicholson (786‑7445)

Background:  Municipalities must enroll their volunteer fire fighters in the Volunteer Firefighters Relief and Pension Fund, which provides protection for fire fighters and their families from death, sickness, injury, or disability arising in the performance of their duties as fire fighters.  The number of volunteer fire fighters of any municipal corporation is limited to 25 per thousand population.  The limit may be increased only by the number of fire fighters with emergency medical training for those departments that operate an emergency first aid and ambulance service.

Summary of Bill:  The 25 per thousand population limit on the membership of a municipal corporation's volunteer fire department is eliminated.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill encourages volunteer fire fighters and removes the limit on the number of volunteer fire fighters that any municipal corporation can have.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ryan Spiller, WA Fire Commissioners Assn. (pro).