Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Local Government Committee
HB 1172
Brief Description: Concerning fire protection district civil service systems.
Sponsors: Representatives Schmidt and Bronoske.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows a fire protection district that has adopted civil service in its fire department to dissolve its civil service system if specified conditions are met.
Hearing Date: 1/29/25
Staff: Elizabeth Allison (786-7129).
Background:

Fire Protection Districts.

Fire protection districts are established for the provision of fire prevention services, fire suppression services, and emergency medical services for the protection of life and property.? Fire protection districts are formed through a petition from the residents of a proposed district, a public hearing, and three-fifths voter approval.? The affairs of the district are managed by a board of elected fire commissioners.

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A fire protection district with a fully paid fire department may provide for civil service in its fire department through a resolution of the board of fire commissioners.

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State Civil?Service?Law.?

State?civil?service?law governs the appointment, promotion, transfer, layoff, removal, discipline, and welfare of most state agency employees. ?State?civil?service?law applies to most state agency employees, unless expressly excluded. ?For example,?civil?service?law does not apply to the legislative branch, the judiciary, academic personnel, state patrol officers, the chief executive officers of each agency, and certain other staff.
Summary of Bill:

A fire protection district that has adopted civil service in its fire department may dissolve its civil service system if:

  • the fire protection district's board of fire commissioners adopts a resolution to dissolve the civil service system; and
  • a majority of the civil service employees employed by the fire protection district vote to dissolve the civil service system within 60 calendar days of the adoption of the resolution by the board of fire commissioners.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.