SF 594 — A bill for an act requiring the state fire marshal to conduct a study on the consolidation of fire protection services, and including effective date provisions.

Senate File 594 - IntroducedReprinted SENATE FILE 594 BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1206) (As Amended and Passed by the Senate March 18, 2025) A BILL FOR An Act requiring the state fire marshal to conduct a study on the consolidation of fire protection services.services, and including effective date provisions.

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At least one representative from a countycity having a population of ninetythirty-seven thousand or more as determined by the 2020 federal decennial census.

At least one representative from a countycity having a population of less than seven thousand five hundredthousand as determined by the 2020 federal decennial census.

At least one representative from a county having a population of ninety thousand or more as determined by the 2020 federal decennial census.

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2.SF 594 (4) 91 -1- ll/js/mb 1/3 S.F.

The594 countywide2. fire protection services study shall LSB 2814SV (3) 91 -1- ll/js 1/4 S.F.

594The countywide fire protection services study shall include all of the following:

The analysis under this paragraph SF 594 (4) 91 -2- ll/js/mb 2/3 S.F.

594 must include outlines of any current or proposed fire protection service programs under chapter 28E, 357B, 357F, 357G, or 357J, and any other legal agreement, contract, or consolidated effort, including as part of a district.

An analysis of countywide fire protection services in LSBother 2814SVstates, (3)with 91an -2-emphasis ll/json 2/4midwest S.F.states, including an analysis of those fire protection programs in comparison to the fire protection needs of this state.

594 other states, with an emphasis on midwest states, including an analysis of those fire protection programs in comparison to the fire protection needs of this state.

Recommendations for the implementation of countywide fire protection services in this state including proposed functionality and an emphasis on the potential impact of implementation on the followingfour most populous counties in this state as determined by the 2020 federal decennial census:census, along with surrounding counties if a multicounty approach to fire protection services would be more beneficial based on the study’s findings.

(1) The county in this state with the highest population.

(2) Two of the next five most populous counties in this state giving preference to those counties that have implemented countywide emergency medical services in accordance with chapter 422D.

The selection of the two counties out of the next five most populous counties in this state shall be determined by the state fire marshal in consultation with the stakeholders outlined in subsection 1.

(3) The least populous county in this state.

(4) Two of the next five least populous counties in this state giving preference to those counties that have implemented countywide emergency medical services in accordance with chapter 422D.

The selection of the two counties out of the next five least populous counties in this state shall be determined by the state fire marshal in consultation with the stakeholders outlined in subsection 1.

EXPLANATIONSF The594 inclusion(4) of91 this-3- explanationll/js/mb does3/3 not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.

This bill requires the state fire marshal, in consultation with a variety of stakeholders, to submit a report of a countywide fire protection services study’s findings to the LSB 2814SV (3) 91 -3- ll/js 3/4 S.F.

594 general assembly on or before June 30, 2026.

The bill provides that the study must include all of the following:

a cost analysis for upfront and ongoing costs to provide consolidated countywide fire protection services systems including proposed funding mechanisms and the potential effect a countywide fire protection service could have on local authority expenditures and budgets;

an analysis of current fire protection coverage including current response times and recommendations for placement of service stations to maximize fire protection coverage and emergency response times;

an analysis of current and future staffing needs including a proposed employment structure that focuses on adequate employee pay and volunteer staffing including benefits, stipends, or other compensation allowed in accordance with local, state, or federal law;

an analysis of current fire protection equipment and future fire protection equipment needs including proposed placement of fire protection equipment in service stations;

an analysis of current communication and dispatch challenges including proposed recommendations for more efficient and effective communications;

an analysis of the need for city and township fire protection services in relation to the implementation of a countywide fire protection service;

an analysis of existing countywide fire protection service programs in this state and midwest states;

and recommendations for the implementation of countywide fire protection services in this state with an emphasis on the effects the consolidated services could have on particular counties.

The bill takes effect upon enactment.

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