Brief Description: Providing wildland fire fighting training.

Sponsors: Senators Roach and Doumit.

Hearing Date: 3/21/03

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 Washington State's fire training and education master plan (RCW 43.43.934) to provide a basic uniform level of training throughout Washington State'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. Reimbursement is paid from the fire service training account, which consists of fees received by the State Patrol for training; grants and bequests accepted by the State Patrol; and 20 percent of all moneys received by the state on fire insurance premiums.

Summary of Bill:

Senate Bill 5176 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: Available for HB 1109.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.