05/06/1998 11:50 AM Senate RLS

SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent CSHB 473(FIN) -                
FIRE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION be approved for calendaring at the             
discretion of the Chair.  SENATOR TAYLOR objected stating that                 
several people had contacted him and voiced their concern with the             
legislation.                                                                   
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE MARK HODGINS, prime sponsor of HB 473, explained                
there were concerns with the original legislation relating to rural            
volunteer fire departments.  The Fire Chiefs Association and the               
Firefighters Association worked on the legislation and came up with            
what he thinks is an acceptable solution to the concerns expressed             
earlier.  However, he noted there was still an area of concern in              
the Mat-Su Valley, but they are working with those people to                   
address their concern.                                                         
                                                                               
SENATOR TAYLOR said his concern is that there are volunteer forces             
around the state that are pretty well stressed already without                 
having to come up with the money to go get training and then go                
through a training program before being allowed to be part of the              
volunteer fire department.                                                     
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS pointed out that they do have the ability               
of opting in or opting out of the program.                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN KELLY stated HB 473 would be held in committee for one day            
in order to take a closer look at some of the problem areas Senator            
Taylor is concerned with.