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Washington Fire Chiefs > Legislative

2012 Legislature

The 2012 Legislative Session begins in January of 2012. The Washington Fire Chiefs Legislative Committee has polled our members to establish our “Top 5 Goals” for the 2011 session, which will be presented for potential adoption at our conference in Spokane the end of May. In addition, we have listed other legislative goals which we may also target in 2012 as requested by our members. The following has established our 2012 direction:
 

 2012 Legislative Goals

 
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Status
  
  
  
  
  
 

 WFC Legislative Meetings

 
​Join us and share your input!  The regular WFC legislative meetings are held at the Olympia office on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at noon.  Light lunch and drinks are provided.
 

 Bill Status

 
  
None
Changing regulations concerning black powder.
Representatives Bailey, Blake, Hope, Chandler, Ross, Smith, Moeller
Holdover Bill from 2011

Black powder.  Increases the amount of black powder that can be transported in a private vehicle and stored in a private residence
*This bill was retained and reintroduced for the 2012 session, but no action has yet taken place.
Opposes
  
None
Limiting indemnification agreements involving design professionals.
Representatives Haigh, Dammeier, Goodman
Holdover Bill from 2011

Design professionals.  Limits indemnification and duty to defend of architects and design professionals when contracting with public agencies.
*Received a public hearing in House Judiciary on Monday, January 9.  Currently scheduled for executive session on Thursday, January 19.  Amendments are reportedly being worked on to alleviate some concerns of public agencies.
Opposes
  
None
Concerning fees for emergency medical service providers.
Representatives Cody, Hunter
Holdover Bill from 2011

EMS fees.  Directs the Secretary of Health to establish credentialing fees for first responders, emergency medical technicians, intermediate life support technicians, paramedics, ambulance services, and aid services.
*This bill was retained and reintroduced for the 2012 session, but no action has yet taken place.
Opposes
  
SB 6024
Concerning political subdivisions in the intrastate mutual aid system.
Representatives Takko, Angel, Eddy, Fitzgibbon, Asay, Upthegrove, Rodne
Revising the definition of "political subdivision" to include a water-sewer district for purposes of the intrastate mutual aid system.
*These bills will not be pursued this legislative session, according to the water-sewer district folks. 
Monitors
  
None
Modifying certain definitions for the purpose of firefighting services for unprotected lands.
Representatives Chandler, Van De Wege, Johnson
Redefining “improved property” for purposes of no-man’s land firefighting efforts.
*Received a public hearing in House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, January 17 at 10:00 am.
Supports
  
SB 6144
Authorizing the department of natural resources to provide wildfire protection services for public lands managed by state agencies.
Representatives Wilcox, Blake, Chandler, Van De Wege, Warnick, McCune, Johnson, Stanford, Hurst, Hinkle, Moscoso
Wildlife protection by DNR.  Authorizes the department of natural resources to provide fire detection, prevention, presuppression, or suppression services on certain nonforested public lands.
*HB 2440 received a public hearing in House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, January 17 at 10:00 am.  Executive action taken on January 18.  WFC signed in supporting the measure.
Supports
  
None
Concerning children's safe products.
Representatives Dickerson, Hudgins, Lytton, Reykdal, Eddy, Dunshee, Billig, Fitzgibbon, Moscoso, McCoy, Hunt, Pollet, Maxwell, Jinkins, Pedersen, Liias, Hansen, Orwall, Ryu, Kenney, Stanford, Hunter
Concerning children’s safe products – TRIS prohibition.
*Received a public hearing in House Environment Committee on Tuesday, January 17 at 1:30 pm.
Supports
  
None
Establishing a yellow dot program for motor vehicles.
Representatives Moeller, Pettigrew, Blake, Clibborn, Armstrong, Goodman, Hasegawa, Fitzgibbon, Carlyle, Orcutt, Maxwell, Dickerson, Pollet, Tharinger, Pearson
Motor vehicle yellow dot program.  Requires the director of the department of licensing to implement a voluntary yellow dot program to assist owners and lessees of motor vehicles and their passengers, emergency medical responders, and law enforcement personnel in the event of a motor vehicle accident, a medical emergency, or any other interaction involving emergency medical responders or law enforcement personnel.
*Received a public hearing in House Transportation Committee on Monday, January 16th, at 3:30 pm.

Position - Monitor with concern of reliability
Monitors
  
SB 6146
Clarifying restrictions on the use of the public records act for the purpose of obtaining records for commercial or profit-making purposes.
Representatives Moeller, Appleton, Armstrong, Ryu, Zeiger, Springer, Tharinger, Dammeier, Darneille, Hunt
Public records act.  Strengthens and clarifies existing restrictions on the use of public records requests for commercial and profit making purposes.
*HB 2340 is scheduled for public hearing in House State Government Committee on Monday, January 23 at 1:30 pm.
Monitors
  
None
Merging plan 1 and plan 2 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.
Representatives Sullivan, Van De Wege
1 & 2 merger.  Merges plan 1 and plan 2 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.
*No hearing yet scheduled.
Opposes
  
SB 6109
Exempting video and audio recordings of closed executive session meetings from public inspection and copying.
Representatives Takko, Angel, Rodne, Springer, Upthegrove, Haler, Moeller, Kagi, Miloscia
Closed executive session meetings.  Exempts from disclosure under the public records act, video and audio recordings of any portion of an executive session from which the public is excluded.
*No hearings yet scheduled.
Monitors
  
None
Limiting the impact of excess compensation on state retirement system contribution rates by redefining excess compensation.
Representatives Bailey, Alexander
Revises the definition of “excess compensation” to limit the impact of excess compensation on state retirement system contribution rates.
*No hearing yet scheduled.
Monitors
  
SB 6305
Providing for the operation of roll your own cigarette machines at retail establishments.
Representatives Kirby, Harris, Dammeier, Walsh, Orwall, Kelley, Moscoso, Zeiger
Providing for the operation of roll your own cigarette machines at retail establishments and will require use of Self extinguishing paper
*HB 2565 is scheduled for public hearing in House Business & Financial Services Committee on Tuesday, January 24, at 1:30 pm.
Supports
  
None
Concerning fire protection firms.
Representatives Pettigrew, Van De Wege
Concerning fire protection firms.
*Scheduled for public hearing Monday, January 23rd, in House Business & Financial Services Committee at 6:00 pm.
Monitors
  
SB 6469
Regulating fire hydrant services provided by local governments.
Representatives Eddy, Ryu, Springer, Asay, Fitzgibbon, Stanford, Moscoso
Regulating fire hydrant services provided by local governments.  Clarifies that maintaining fire hydrants is the responsibility of the city, town, or water district, not the fire district.
*No hearing is yet scheduled.
Supports
  
None
Establishing a joint select committee on junior taxing districts.
Representatives Eddy, Springer, Takko, Carlyle, Tharinger
Establishing a joint select committee on junior taxing districts.
*No hearing is yet scheduled.
Position – Monitor with concerns
Monitors
  
None
Exempting certain motor vehicles from meeting motor vehicle emission standards.
Representative Takko
Exempting certain vehicles from meeting motor vehicle emissions standards.  Includes “fire districts” as an entity whose vehicles are exempt.
*No hearing is yet scheduled.
Supports
  
SB 6470
Authorizing benefit charges for the enhancement of fire protection services.
Representatives Goodman, Kagi
Authorizing benefit charges for the enhancement of fire protection services.  Allows cities or towns that are annexing fire services to run a benefit charge, which is currently limited to fire districts and fire authorities.
*No hearing is yet scheduled.
Supports
  
SB 6363
Addressing the mobilization of all risk resources during an emergency.
Representatives Hurst, Pearson
Addressing the mobilization of all risk resources during an emergency.
*Introduced by WFC in both the House and Senate.  No hearings yet scheduled.
Supports
  
None
Requiring drug testing of all employees of a law enforcement agency or fire department.
Representatives Hope, Fagan, Nealey, Pearson
Requiring drug testing of all employees of a law enforcement agency or fire department.
*No hearing yet scheduled.
Monitors
  
None
Amending the state Constitution by adding requirements for initiative filings.
Representatives Finn, Alexander, Orwall, Hunt, Haigh, Sells, Wylie, Maxwell, Takko, Zeiger, Eddy, Kelley, Hurst, Blake, Springer, Appleton, Warnick, Carlyle, Darneille, Miloscia, Moscoso, Roberts, Santos
Initiative filings.  Adds a requirement to the state Constitution that initiatives not be certified if they will result in an expected increase to the costs or expenditures of the state or local government in excess of five million dollars, unless the initiative also specifies a method to offset the cost increase with a new tax or fee.
*Scheduled for public hearing in House State Government Committee on Monday, Jan 23rd at 1:30 pm.
Monitors
  
HB 1476
Adjusting voting requirements for emergency medical service levies.
Senators Prentice, Regala
Making renewal EMS levies a simple majority vote.
*Received a public hearing in Senate Government Operations Committee on Monday, January 16 at 10:00 am.
Supports
  
HB 2178
Concerning political subdivisions in the intrastate mutual aid system.
Senators Pridemore, Swecker, Chase, Fain, Tom, King, Shin, Roach
Revising the definition of "political subdivision" to include a water-sewer district for purposes of the intrastate mutual aid system.
*These bills will not be pursued this legislative session, according to the water-sewer district folks. 
Monitors
  
HB 2406
Exempting video and audio recordings of closed executive session meetings from public inspection and copying.
Senators Pridemore, Swecker, Prentice
Closed executive session meetings.  Exempts from disclosure under the public records act, video and audio recordings of any portion of an executive session from which the public is excluded.
*No hearings yet scheduled.
Monitors
  
None
Concerning children's safe products.
Senators Nelson, Swecker, Harper, Hargrove, Kohl-Welles, Fraser, Kastama, Pridemore, Rolfes, Frockt, Ranker, Regala, Shin, Tom, Kline, Chase, Keiser, Conway
Concerning children’s safe products – TRIS prohibition.
*Received a public hearing in Senate Environment Committee on Tuesday, January 17 at 10:00 am.
Supports
  
HB 2440
Authorizing the department of natural resources to provide wildfire protection services for public lands managed by state agencies.
Senators Ranker, Morton, Hargrove, Parlette, Fraser, Regala, Honeyford, Swecker, Shin
Wildlife protection by DNR.  Authorizes the department of natural resources to provide fire detection, prevention, presuppression, or suppression services on certain nonforested public lands.
*SB 6144 is scheduled for public hearing in Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 24th at 1:30 pm. 
Supports
  
HB 2340
Clarifying restrictions on the use of the public records act for the purpose of obtaining records for commercial or profit-making purposes.
Senators Prentice, Swecker, Tom, Hobbs
Public records act.  Strengthens and clarifies existing restrictions on the use of public records requests for commercial and profit making purposes.
*SB 6146 is scheduled for public hearing in Senate Government Operations Committee on Tuesday, January 24 at 1:30 pm.
Monitors
  
None
Concerning the possession and manufacture of equipment for public safety and military personnel.
Senators Kastama, Carrell, Regala, Kilmer
Military & safety equipment.  Outlaws the manufacture, sale, disposal, or possession of a switchblade knife, except by a law enforcement officer, firefighter or rescue member, Washington state patrol officer, or active military member while on official duty.
*Scheduled for public hearing in Senate Judiciary on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 1:30 pm.
Monitors
  
None
Concerning limitations on the taxing authority of counties for emergency medical services.
Senator Swecker
Emergency medical services.  Addresses limitations on the taxing authority of counties for emergency medical services.
*Scheduled for public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 10:00 am in Senate Government Operations Committee.
Monitors
  
None
Modifying the use of funds in the fire service training account.
Senators Haugen, King, Eide
Fire service training account.  Allows money from the fire service training account to be used for the maintenance, operation, and capital projects of the state fire training academy.  There is no limitation currently in the bill.
*Scheduled for public hearing in Senate Ways & Means Committee on Wed., January 25, at 3:30 pm.
Supports
  
HB 2565
Providing for the operation of roll your own cigarette machines at retail establishments.
Senators Rolfes, Becker, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Keiser, Hobbs
Providing for the operation of roll your own cigarette machines at retail establishments and will require use of Self extinguishing paper
*SB 6305 is scheduled for public hearing in Senate Labor & Commerce on Monday, Jan 23, at 10:00 am.
Supports
  
HB 2677
Regarding inspection and copying of any public record.
Senators Prentice, Swecker, Haugen
Regarding inspection and copying of any public record.
*No hearing is yet scheduled.
Supports
  
HB 2625
Addressing the mobilization of all risk resources during an emergency.
Senators Swecker, Pridemore
Addressing the mobilization of all risk resources during an emergency.
*Introduced by WFC in both the House and Senate.  No hearings yet scheduled.
Supports
Bill Number 
Companion Bill 
Short Title 
Sponsors 
Description 
Current Update 
WFC Position 
Link to Bill 
 

 Legislative Announcements

 
WFC Legislative Committee Meetings  
by Wayne SenterNo presence information		 12/15/2011 4:59 PM

​At our last meeting of December 14th 2011, the committee set out the 2012 meeting schedule as follows:

 

2nd and 4th Wednesdays at noon at the WFC offices unless otherwise indicated.

The next meeting will be held on January 11th 2012.

The January...

 
(More Announcements...)
 

 Legislative Links

 
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 2012 Legislative Resources

 
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Fire Chiefs Leg Report - Jan 27 2012.docFire Chiefs Leg Report - Jan 27 2012
WFC Legislative Report - Jan 19, 2012.docWFC Legislative Report - Jan 19, 2012
WFC Legislative Top Issues 2012.docWFC Legislative Top Issues 2012
WFC Legislative Updates December 16 2011.docxWFC Legislative Updates December 16 2011
FireChiefsAssoc-VanDeWege12-7-2011.pdfFireChiefsAssoc-VanDeWege12-7-2011
Legislative Day Flier 12 for Email.pdfLegislative Day Flier 12 for Email
(More Documents...)
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