COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AND ENVIRONMENT
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B. 1282
(Reference to printed bill)
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert:
“Section 1. Study committee on countywide fire districts; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal
A. The study committee on countywide fire districts is established consisting of the following members:
1. One member of the senate who is appointed by the president of the senate and who shall serve as co-chairperson of the committee.
2. One member of the house of representatives who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who shall serve as co-chairperson of the committee.
3. One representative of a tax research organization in this state, who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
4. One representative of a statewide association of fire districts, who is appointed by the president of the senate.
5. One member of the county board of supervisors or their designee from a county with a population no more than one hundred twenty thousand persons and no less than one hundred thousand persons, who is appointed by the president of the senate.
6. Two members of the public who pay taxes to a fire district, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the president of the senate.
B. The study committee shall research and report on the following:
1. The background and history of fire districts in this state, including their tax structure, governance and relationship to other political subdivisions, including the role of counties in overseeing fire districts.
2. Reports of financial or operational mismanagement by fire districts, as well as unethical or unprofessional conduct by fire district board members or employees.
3. Potential remedies to prevent fire district mismanagement and unethical or unprofessional conduct by fire districts board members and employees.
4. The efficacy of fire districts in providing fire and emergency service.
5. The viability of alternative models of providing fire and emergency services to unincorporated areas not served by municipal fire departments, including the elimination of fire districts and the creation of countywide fire districts administered by a county board of supervisors.
C. The countywide fire district study committee may:
1. Request information, data and reports from any state agency or political subdivision of this state.
2. Hold hearings and take testimony from members of the public.
D. The committee shall submit a report regarding the committee's findings and recommendations on or before December 31, 2013 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
E. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2014.
Sec. 2. Emergency
This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.”
Amend title to conform