| TO: | Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1022 by Madla (Relating to emergency services districts.), As Introduced |
The bill would authorize emergency services districts to contract for law enforcement services or commission a peace officer to enforce the district's fire code. The bill would require that the district's fire code standards be similar to those adopted by a nationally recognized standards-making association. If a district's and a county's fire code conflict, the more stringent would be enforced.
The bill would also authorize a district's board to borrow money and make other financial arrangements to construct emergency services facilities. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2003.
Under current statute, an emergency services district may contract for law enforcement services, but may not commission or hire a peace officer. Existing law does not specify for what purpose law enforcement services would be contracted, whereas the proposed statute specifies for enforcing fire codes in the district. Also, districts are not currently required to adopt a fire code that is specifically similar to that of a nationally recognized standards-making association. Additionally, under existing law, districts may borrow money and make other financial arrangements to purchase real property or emergency services equipment, but not emergency services facilities.
If a district were to commission or hire a peace officer to enforce the fire code, it is not anticipated the costs would differ significantly from the costs of contracting for those services. The issue of the level of standards of the fire code is not expected to create additional costs, as most districts already adhere to that level. The ability to borrow money to purchase emergency services facilities would create a cost that would vary, but it is anticipated that the district would not borrow money or make other financial arrangements without a means in place for repaying the loans.
| Source Agencies: | |
| LBB Staff: | JK, DLBa
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