11-251.12. County islands; fire and emergency services protection; intergovernmental agreement with municipalities; definition

A. A county that has a population of more than one million five hundred thousand persons and that has a county island that does not form a county island fire district may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with a municipality or municipalities for fire protection and emergency medical services in that county island. Notwithstanding any other law, a county is liable if the county was negligent in enforcing building, zoning or other related codes in a county island and a municipality that has an intergovernmental agreement to provide fire and emergency medical services pursuant to this section is hindered in responding to an emergency because of a building, zoning or other related code issue.

B. If a municipality elects to provide fire and emergency medical services in a county island where a private provider of fire or emergency services already has facilities or provides service, the municipality and the private provider shall enter into an agreement covering the roles and relationships regarding mutual aid or backup agreements and any services for which the municipality wishes to contract and any reimbursement or billing and collection practices. The agreement shall be executed before the municipality commences providing service in the county island.  No agreement is required if the private provider notifies the municipality that it will cease service in the county island within one hundred eighty days after the date the municipality commences providing service.

C. Any private provider of fire or emergency medical services or both that is providing services in a county island shall provide notice of termination of services to those residents receiving services.  The private provider shall provide that notice at least twelve months before termination or withdrawal of those services.

D. For the purposes of this article, "county island" means unincorporated territory that is surrounded on all sides by a municipality or where the unincorporated territory that has borders that involve a combination of a municipality or municipalities and an Indian reservation.