05/01/1996 03:10 PM House L&C

 SB 201 - FIRE FIGHTING PERSONNEL EMPLOYMENT                                 
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN KOTT invited Senator Georgianna Lincoln, sponsor of                  
 SB201, to introduce the bill.                                                 
                                                                               
 Number 0055                                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN said SB 201 required no state money.  It           
 had been amended so that money may not be used to replace permanent           
 or seasonal state employees.  It was also amended so the                      
 commissioner may not use apportions to the department from state              
 general funds for emergency fire fighting personnel engaged in non-           
 emergency activities.                                                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR LINCOLN indicated up to $500,000 of federal money was                 
 available.  She said there was currently enough work identified for           
 $250,000 to be used for projects with the Bureau of Land                      
 Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service             
 and U.S. Forest Service.  These agencies had already identified 300           
 days of work for the emergency fire fighting crews.                           
                                                                               
 Number 0165                                                                   
                                                                               
 SENATOR LINCOLN said this was a wonderful opportunity to utilize              
 the fire fighters, who hopefully would have a poor season again               
 this year, to cut brush around a community or help with fish and              
 game habitat, for example.  "As our rules now sit, we cannot use              
 the federal money for that," she explained.                                   
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE GENE KUBINA made a motion that CSSB 201(FIN) move              
 from committee with individual recommendations.                               
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN KOTT noted the motion and indicated there was an                     
 accompanying zero fiscal note.  He asked if there was an objection.           
 There being no objection, CSSB 201(FIN) moved from committee.