Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the establishment of emergency response districts and fire departments
Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee
Topics:Public safety & emergencies
Same legislation: HF 248
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 1, 2021
- Done: House committeeFebruary 23, 2021
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 9, 202186–7
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. 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.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 29, 2021. It hasn’t reported yet.
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
0 million per year. For estimation purposes, it is assumed the increase will be spread proportionally across the fire and police departments’ budgets. 9%) per year.
- Fire Districts · March 8, 2021
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§357J.19
Lobbying
4 for · 3 against · 16 undecided · Who →
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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.