Brief Description: Providing wildland fire fighting training.

Sponsors: Representatives Clibborn, Newhouse, Benson, Wallace and Haigh.

Hearing Date: 1/30/03

Staff: Anne Warwick (786-7291).

Background:

The Washington State Patrol provides fire fighter training at its training academy in North Bend. Fire departments may use the training academy or acquire training services from some other source. In 1999 the Legislature amended RCW 43.43.934, Washington's fire training and education master plan, to provide a basic uniform level of training throughout Washington's fire protection districts and city fire departments. The State Fire Protection Policy Board of the Washington State Patrol was charged with developing and adopting a plan providing fire fighter 1 level training to all fire fighters in the state. The plan included a minimum reimbursement of $2 for every hour of fire fighter 1 training received, up to 150 hours.

Summary of Bill:

House Bill 1109 amends current fire fighter 1 training reimbursement statutes to include wildland fire fighting training. The bill would also increase reimbursement dollar amounts from $2 to $3 per hour of instruction along with increasing the maximum reimbursed instructional hours from 150 to 200.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2003.

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