Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the establishment of emergency response districts and fire departments
Topics:Public safety & emergencies
Same legislation: HF 683
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 1, 2021
- Done: House committeeFebruary 23, 2021
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 683
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 683 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 683 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to the establishment of emergency response districts and fire departments. Current law creates a pilot project authorizing a county to establish an emergency response district within the county. A commission composed of a member of the county board of supervisors, the county sheriff, and the mayor from each city within the district is responsible for governing the district and no member may appoint a designee to serve on the commission. Current law allows certain boards of supervisors to call for the creation of an emergency response district and notify the state fire marshal’s office if a motion to form a district has been adopted.
Read the full explanation
Upon the approval of a district, an appointed civil engineer or the county engineer is required to submit a preliminary plat exhibiting certain details of the district and a subsequent report. Current law also requires the district fire chief to appoint an assistant fire chief for each existing fire department and station within the district who shall be responsible for delivery of fire protection service and emergency medical service within the areas designated by the commission. The bill repeals the pilot program and authorizes a governmental entity, as defined in the bill, to establish an emergency response district. The bill amends the definition of “commission” to mean a member or designee of each governmental entity participating in the emergency response district. The bill requires each governmental entity intending to participate in an emergency response district to issue a notice of intent to hold a public hearing concerning the establishment of a proposed district and provide certain information with such notice. The bill requires a hearing concerning the establishment of a proposed district to occur no less than days and no more than days after the notice is issued. The bill amends the process for changing district boundaries to require the approval of the commission and each governmental entity that is a member of the emergency response district. The bill requires incorporation documents of an emergency response district to include provisions for dissolution, the withdrawal of an individual member, and the dispensing of property in either event. The bill repeals provisions relating to the engineer’s responsibilities and the appointment of assistant fire chiefs. The bill requires a city in which an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents is located to establish, house, equip, staff, uniform, and maintain a full-time, professional fire department that is separate from the city’s police department.
House subcommittee
Named February 1, 2021. On February 2, 2021 it recommended passage. Vote Total: 3-0.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill replaces a pilot program for emergency response districts and requires cities with a Regents institution to keep their fire and police departments separate. The city of Cedar Falls estimates that reorganizing these departments could increase public safety budget costs by $2.0 million per year. Additionally, the University of Northern Iowa's fire department expenses are estimated to increase by $112,000 per year.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 683 repeals the pilot program for emergency response districts under Iowa Code chapter 357J and replaces the pilot program with a new government entity under the same name. The Bill further requires a city in which a Regents institution is located to maintain a fire department separate from the city’s police department.
Background
The pilot program for emergency response districts was established under 2008 Iowa Acts, chapter 1152. As of FY 2021, there are no known districts levying for property taxes under this pilot program.
Beginning in 2005, the city of Cedar Falls began transitioning toward a public safety model in which employees are cross-trained and certified as both police officers and fire fighters. This model is referred to as a public safety officer (PSO) model. Since 2016, all new hires to the Public Safety Services office are trained as PSOs. In March 2020, the Cedar Falls City Council voted to require the remaining fire fighters on staff to move toward being certified under the PSO model.
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI), a Regents institution, is located in Cedar Falls. In an agreement with the city, UNI pays 16.0% of the city’s net annual fire department expenses. In FY 2020, UNI paid $564,000 in fire department-related expenses.
Assumptions
It is not known if any emergency response districts will be established under the provisions of this Bill.
To comply with the Bill provisions requiring a city with a Regents institution to maintain a fire department separate from the city’s police department, the city of Cedar Falls may need to reorganize the city’s Public Safety Services office into two separate departments. Public safety costs are primarily paid from the city’s general fund, or the $8.10 levy, which may increase property taxes.
Fiscal Impact
The city of Cedar Falls estimates that under the provisions of this Bill, to provide the same service and personal response under separate departments will increase public safety budget costs by $2.0 million per year.
For estimation purposes, it is assumed the increase will be spread proportionally across the fire and police departments’ budgets. Based on FY 2021 budget estimates, UNI’s expenses for fire department costs will increase by $112,000 (19.9%) per year.
Sources
- Department of Management
- City of Cedar Falls, Public Safety Services Office
- City of Cedar Falls, FY21 Budget Highlights by Division
- Board of Regents
- Fire Districts · March 8, 2021
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§357J.19
Lobbying
4 for · 3 against · 16 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Tried before
89th General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2319 Relating to the creation and administration of emergency response districts88th General Assembly · In committee · very similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- SF 2099 Relating to the establishment of emergency response districts89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2267Very similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.