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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
fire districts; amendments
Purpose
Modifies requirements for filling vacancies on a fire district board, liability for the cost of services provided outside a fire district boundary and the consolidation of two or more fire districts. Modifies requirements for public records retention and boundary expansion of noncontiguous county island fire districts (county island districts).
Background
Fire districts are governed by three-member
or five-member district boards, depending on the population of the fire
district. If a vacancy occurs on the fire district board for any reason other
than expiration of a term, a quorum of the remaining board must fill the
vacancy by appointment of an interim member (A.R.S.
§ 48-803). Fire district boards may employ personnel and provide services
necessary for fire protection, the preservation of life and carrying out its
duties (A.R.S.
§ 48-805).
Statute outlines processes for two or more fire districts to consolidate if it is determined by the fire district to promote the public safety, health, comfort, convenience, necessity or welfare. Fire district consolidations must either be approved by the voters of the fire district at a consolidation election or, if certain conditions are met, the fire district governing body may vote to consolidate two or more fire districts by either unanimous or majority vote (A.R.S. § 48-822).
Fire districts are required to be contiguous; however, one or more persons can petition to form a county island district. A county island district must: 1) consist only of noncontiguous county islands in an area contained in a municipal planning area and within the boundaries of an automatic aid or mutual aid consortium; and 2) not be funded using a fire district assistance tax at its formation. Additionally, there may be only one fire district within the geographic area of the municipal planning area for any one city or town for a county island district to be formed (A.R.S. § 48-851). Following formation, a county island district may expand its boundaries to include unincorporated parcels within a city's or town's municipal planning area, with permission of the city or town (A.R.S. § 48-853).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Fire Districts
1. Requires a position on a fire district board to be declared vacant upon expiration of a fire district board member's term of office, unless filled at a general election or by appointment if only one nominating petition is filed to fill the position.
2. Requires a vacancy on a fire district board, if the vacancy occurs due to the expiration of a fire district board member's term of office, to be filled by:
a) appointment by a quorum of the fire district board within 90 days of the beginning of the new term of office; or
b) the county board of supervisors, if the fire district board is unable to establish a quorum.
3. Allows a fire district that contracts for fire and emergency medical services to designate the fire chief of the service provider as the fire district fire chief.
4. Requires, if a fire district provides an emergency fire or emergency medical service outside of fire district boundaries, the property owner to be held liable for the cost of the services, rather than the person receiving the services.
5. Requires a fire district board, if a fire district consolidation is approved by a board vote pursuant to statutory requirements, to declare the fire district consolidated by resolution.
6. Requires a fire district board, if a fire district consolidation is approved by a majority vote for a fire district that has obtained a consolidation, merger or joint operating alternatives study or has a tax rate above the allowable tax rate, to receive written consent to the consolidation from any taxpayer within the fire districts that owns 30 percent or more of the net-assessed value of the fire district.
County Island Districts
7. Allows a county island district to post and publish the county island district budget more than 20 days before a public hearing to adopt the budget.
8. Removes the requirement that all public records of a county island district be maintained in an electronic media or digital imaging format.
9. Removes the requirement that the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records approve an acceptable electronic media or digital imaging format for the county island district.
10. Removes the requirement that a copy of permanent public records of county island districts be maintained by the county in which the county island district resides.
11. Requires county island districts to adopt the Arizona Fire Codes, rather than the applicable municipal fire code.
12. Exempts county island districts that expand the district boundaries to include unincorporated parcels within a city's or town's municipal planning area from the prohibition on county island district expansion of noncontiguous areas.
Miscellaneous
13. Makes technical and conforming changes.
14. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2020
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