ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

 

HB 2418: fire district advisory board

Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28

Committee on Military Affairs & Public Safety

Overview

Creates the Fire District Advisory Board (Board).

History

Fire districts are special taxing districts in Arizona created to provide fire protection, emergency medical services and related services in rural and unincorporated areas. Fire districts are governed by three or five member boards; the number is based on specified population and tax levy thresholds (A.R.S. Title 48, Chapter 5, Article 1).

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) is tasked with providing for land management and the prevention and suppression of wildland fires on State Trust Land and on private property located outside of cities and towns. DFFM is led by the State Forester; he is appointed by the Governor and is tasked with directing DFFM's various functions and administering federal and state forestry and wildfire management programs (A.R.S. §§ 37-1301; 37-1302).

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteProvisions

1.   Establishes the Board for the purpose of ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of emergency services throughout Arizona. (Sec. 1)

2.   Outlines the membership terms and requirements for the seven voting members and one non-voting member of the Board. (Sec. 1)

3.   Instructs the Board to meet at least once every 180 days per fiscal year. (Sec. 1)

4.   Requires the Board to:

a)   make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature about various appropriations, programs, projects and actions which should be taken to improve fire, medical and other related emergency services and systems in Arizona;

b)   apply for and administer statewide and regional grants for fire district services;

c) check annually if fire district board members are complying with statutorily required professional development training requirements and to provide notice to the Attorney General for noncompliance and enforcement if necessary; and

d)   annually evaluate fire district budget filings and, if deemed necessary, require a governing body to undertake a study of merger or consolidation and submit the results to the Board. (Sec. 1)

5.   Permits the Board to:

a)   require a fire district to complete a wildfire risk assessment and submit the completed assessment to the Board and Director of DFFM;

b)   annually evaluate, and provide notice to the affected county board of supervisors, if a fire district's governing board needs to be expanded from three to five seats based on the statutory population or tax levy thresholds;

c) annually review fire district tax levies and receipts and make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to remedy service delivery deficiencies as necessary;

d)   require a fire district, with a tax rate within 10% of the maximum allowable rate, to undertake a study of merger or consolidation and submit the study to the Board;

e)   establish a procurement authority or a cooperative group purchasing program, or join an existing instance of the same, for the purchase of equipment and supplies;

f) accept gifts, grants and contributions from private individuals, foundations and the federal government; and

g)   recommend national standards and best practices for the operation of fire districts. (Sec. 1)

6.   Directs DFFM to provide administrative support for the Board. (Sec. 1)

7.   Defines pertinent terms. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                        HB 2418

Initials NM    Page 0 Military Affairs & Public Safety

 

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