CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2010

Chapter 280, Laws of 2017

65th Legislature

2017 Regular Session

WILDFIRE AREAS--HOMELESSNESS--TRANSFER OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

EFFECTIVE DATE: 5/10/2017

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2010

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

Passed Legislature - 2017 Regular Session


State of Washington	65th Legislature	2017 Regular Session

By House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Maycumber, Dent, Blake, Kretz, Dye, and Manweller)

READ FIRST TIME 02/17/17.

AN ACT Relating to the prevention of homelessness in wildfire areas; amending RCW 76.04.135; adding a new section to chapter 43.30 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.30 RCW to read as follows:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, in order to prevent homelessness in any county located east of the crest of the Cascade mountain range that shares a common border with Canada and has a population of one hundred thousand or less, the department shall, to strengthen the local capacity for controlling risk to life and property that may result from wildfires, administer to these counties, funding for radio communication equipment; and fire protection service providers within these counties to provide residential wildfire risk reduction activities, including education and outreach, technical assistance, fuel mitigation and other residential risk reduction measures. For the purposes of this section, fire protection service providers include fire departments, fire districts, emergency management services, and regional fire protection service authorities. The department must prioritize funding to counties authorized in this section serving a disproportionately higher percentage of low-income residents, as defined in RCW 84.36.042, that are located in areas of higher wildfire risk, and whose fire protection service providers have a shortage of reliable equipment and resources.

Sec. 2. RCW 76.04.135 and 2012 c 38 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) For the purpose of promoting and facilitating cooperation among fire protection agencies, including the department, and between the department and other agencies that manage lands owned by the state, and to more adequately protect life, property, and the natural resources of the state, the department may enter into a contract or agreement with a municipality, county, state, or federal agency to provide fire detection, prevention, presuppression, or suppression services on property which they are responsible to protect or manage.

(2) Contracts or agreements under subsection (1) of this section may contain provisions for the exchange of services on a cooperative basis or services in return for cash payment or other compensation.

(3) No charges may be made when the department determines that under a cooperative contract or agreement the assistance received from a municipality, county, or federal agency on state protected lands equals that provided by the state on municipal, county, or federal lands.

(4) The department may transfer ownership of depreciated firefighting vehicles and related equipment upon terms subject to mutual agreement to local fire districts in wildfire prone areas in all areas of the state, as determined by the department, and where the median household income is below the state average. These vehicle and equipment transfers are exempt from the requirements in RCW 43.19.1919(1). The department must notify the chairs and ranking members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction regarding these transfers at least ten days prior to transfer of the equipment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

Passed by the House April 13, 2017.

Passed by the Senate April 7, 2017.

Approved by the Governor May 10, 2017.

Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 10, 2017.