SB 319 — Requires the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, Reno City Council and Sparks City Council to establish a board to study the creation of a county fire protection district within certain territory. (BDR S-1018)

3.

All debts, obligations, liabilities, revenues, expenditures and assets of a former fire protection district or fire department consolidated into a county fire protection district pursuant to this section must be assumed or taken over by the district.

4.

The county and each participating city may negotiate concerning the manner of contributing to the budget of the county fire protection district in proportion to the sum of revenues derived by each from special assessments, taxes, licenses for business and gaming and fees for services performed within the territory of the district.

5.

A county fire protection district formed pursuant to this section:

(a) Is a political subdivision of the State;

and (b) Has perpetual existence unless dissolved by interlocal agreement.

6.

Each such district may:

(a) Sue and be sued, and be a party to suits, actions and proceedings;

(b) Arbitrate claims;

and (c) Contract and be contracted with.

7.

The governing body of the county fire protection district must be known as the board of fire commissioners and composed of:

(a) Two members of the board of county commissioners, appointed by the board of county commissioners;

and (b) Two members of each of the governing bodies of each participating city in the county, appointed by the governing body of the incorporated city.

8.

A Chair and Vice Chair must be elected from among the members at the first meeting of the board of fire commissioners.

9.

Unless the board of fire commissioners employs:

(a) A clerk, the county clerk is ex officio the clerk of each such district.

- *SB319_R1* – 4 – (b) A treasurer, the county treasurer is ex officio the treasurer of each such district.

10.

A majority of members constitutes a quorum at any meeting.

Any action of the board of fire commissioners must be approved by a majority of members and at least one member appointed by each participating governing body.

Sec.

3.

The board of fire commissioners established pursuant to section 2 of this act shall:

1.

Manage and conduct the business and affairs of the county fire protection district organized pursuant to section 2 of this act.

2.

Adopt and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for the administration and government of the district and for the furnishing of fire protection and fire prevention.

The regulations may include provisions that are designed to protect life and property from:

(a) The hazards of fire, including, without limitation, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices;

and (b) Hazardous conditions relating to the use or occupancy of any premises.

 Any regulation concerning hazardous substances, materials or devices adopted pursuant to this section must be consistent with any plan or ordinance concerning those substances, materials or devices that is required by the Federal Government and adopted by the board of county commissioners.

3.

Organize, regulate, establish and disband fire companies, fire departments or volunteer fire departments for the district.

4.

Provide for the payment of salaries to the personnel of such fire companies or fire departments.

5.

Provide for payment from the proper fund of all the debts and just claims against the district.

6.

Employ agents and employees for the district sufficient to maintain and operate the property acquired for the purposes of the district.

7.

Acquire real or personal property necessary for the purposes of the district and dispose of such property if no longer needed.

8.

Construct any necessary structures.

9.

Acquire, hold and possess, by donation or purchase, any land or other property necessary for the purpose of the district.

10.

Eliminate fire hazards from the district if practicable and possible, and to that end, the board of fire commissioners may clear the public highways and private lands of dry grass, stubble, brush, rubbish or other inflammable material that, in its judgment, constitutes a fire hazard.

- *SB319_R1* – 5 – 11.

Perform all other acts necessary, proper and convenient to accomplish the purposes of sections 2 to 11, inclusive, of this act.

Sec.

4.

1.

The board of fire commissioners established pursuant to section 2 of this act shall:

(a) Plan for the prevention and extinguishment of fires in the territory within the county fire protection district and coordinate with the State Forester Firewarden, when practical and possible, to improve the fire protection activities of the district with the fire protection provided by the Division of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and by federal agencies, in order that the State Forester Firewarden may establish a statewide plan for the prevention and control of large fires, mutual aid among the districts, training of personnel, supply, finance and other purposes to promote fire protection on a statewide basis.

(b) Cooperate with the State Forester Firewarden and other agencies as provided in NRS 472.040 to 472.090, inclusive, to prevent and suppress fires in wild lands, and may contribute suitable amounts of money from the assessments levied pursuant to section 8 of this act for that purpose to cooperating agencies, or may receive contributions from other agencies to be spent for that purpose.

2.

Through inspection, the State Forester Firewarden may recommend standardization of fire protection equipment and facilities of the district to facilitate mutual aid among the districts.

Sec.

5.

1.

The board of fire commissioners established pursuant to section 2 of this act may appoint a district fire chief who is experienced in fire control and meets any qualifications set by the board of fire commissioners.

A district fire chief appointed pursuant to this subsection shall hire such employees as are authorized by the board, administer all fire control laws in the territory described by the interlocal agreement entered into pursuant to section 2 of this act and perform such other duties as may be designated by the board of fire commissioners and the State Forester Firewarden.

The district fire chief shall coordinate fire protection activities in the district and shall cooperate with all other existing fire protection agencies and rangeland fire protection associations and with the State Forester Firewarden for the standardization of equipment and facilities.

2.

In lieu of or in addition to the provisions of subsection 1, the board of fire commissioners may:

(a) Provide the fire protection activities required by sections 2 to 10, inclusive, of this act to the district by entering into agreements with other agencies or rangeland fire protection - *SB319_R1* – 6 – associations as provided by NRS 277.180 and 472.060 to 472.090, inclusive, for the furnishing of such protection to the district;

or (b) Authorize, regulate or support volunteer fire departments within the district for the furnishing of such protection to the district.

Sec.

6.

1.

Any county fire protection district organized pursuant to section 2 of this act, acting by and through the board of fire commissioners established pursuant to section 2 of this act, may, by resolution, at any time or from time to time, acquire:

(a) A system of waterworks, hydrants and supplies of water;

(b) Communication systems for fire and telephone, radio, television service and any other similar methods of communication;

(c) Fire engines and other vehicles;

(d) Hooks, ladders, chutes, buckets, gauges, meters, hoses, pumps, fire extinguishers, fans and artificial lights;

(e) Respirators, rescue equipment, medical supplies and equipment, other apparatus for firefighting and protection from fire, and other appurtenances;

(f) Fixtures, structures, stations, other buildings and sites therefor;

(g) Land, interests in land, and improvements thereon for firebreaks and other protection from fire;

(h) Appurtenances and incidentals necessary, useful or desirable for any such facilities, including all types of property therefor;

(i) Any other assets, tools or equipment necessary, proper and convenient to accomplish the purposes of sections 2 to 11, inclusive, of this act;

and (j) Any combination of the properties provided in this section.

2.

The title to all property which may have been acquired pursuant to subsection 1 must be vested in the district.

3.

For the purpose of defraying the cost of the acquisition of any properties authorized by subsection 1, the board of fire commissioners, on behalf and in the name of any district, may, by resolution, at any time or from time to time, borrow money, otherwise become obligated and evidence or reevidence such obligations by the issuance of bonds and other municipal securities payable from general (ad valorem) taxes and constituting general obligations of the district, as provided in the Local Government Securities Law, subject to the limitations therein and in NRS 474.514.

Sec.

7.

1.

The board of fire commissioners established pursuant to section 2 of this act shall prepare an annual budget in accordance with the provisions of NRS 354.470 to 354.626, - *SB319_R1* – 7 – inclusive, for a county fire protection district organized pursuant to section 2 of this act.

2.

Each budget must be based on estimates of the amount of money which will be needed to defray the expenses of the district and to meet unforeseen emergencies and the amounts negotiated pursuant to subsection 4 of section 2 of this act and the amount of any assessment levied pursuant to section 8 of this act sufficient to raise such sums.

Sec.

8.

1.

If the board of fire commissioners determines that levying an assessment is necessary to pay the expenses of the district, the board shall submit the proposed assessment to the board of county commissioners of the county and the governing body of each incorporated city in the county.

2.

Upon receipt of a proposed assessment pursuant to subsection 1, the governing body of each incorporated city in the county shall approve or reject the proposed assessment and notify the board of fire commissioners and the board of county commissioners of its decision.

3.

Upon receipt of a proposed assessment pursuant to subsection 1 and a notice pursuant to subsection 2, the board of county commissioners shall certify the assessment to the county assessor.

The county assessor shall enter the amount of the assessment on the assessment roll against the assessed property.

4.

The assessment may be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary county taxes are collected, and is subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for ordinary county taxes.

All laws applicable to the collection and enforcement of county taxes are applicable to the special assessment.

Sec.

9.

No indebtedness, as defined in NRS 350.586, including outstanding indebtedness, shall be incurred by any county fire protection district organized pursuant to section 2 of this act in an aggregate principal amount exceeding 5 percent of the total last assessed valuation of taxable property (excluding motor vehicles and cattle) situated within the district.

Sec.

10.

All accounts, bills and demands against a county fire protection district organized pursuant to section 2 of this act must be audited, allowed and paid by the board of fire commissioners established pursuant to section 2 of this act by warrants drawn on the county treasurer or the treasurer of the district.

The county treasurer or, if authorized by the board of county commissioners and the board of fire commissioners, the treasurer of the district shall pay them in the order in which they are presented.

- *SB319_R1* – 8 – Sec.

11.

If a county fire protection district organized pursuant to section 2 of this act is dissolved by interlocal agreement and at the time of the dissolution, there are any outstanding or bonded indebtedness of the district, then taxes for the payment of such bonds or other indebtedness must be levied and collected the same as if the district had not been dissolved and disincorporated, but for all other purposes the district shall be deemed dissolved from the time of the filing of the copy of the interlocal agreement with the clerk of the board of county commissioners and the recording of the copy of such entry with the county recorder.

Sec.

12.

NRS 474.565 is hereby amended to read as follows:

474.565 1.

The boundaries of two or more contiguous fire protection districts located within a county and organized pursuant to NRS 474.010 to 474.450, inclusive, 474.460 or 474.533 or section 2 of this act may be adjusted in the manner provided in this section so that all or any part of the area of one such fire protection district is excluded from that district and added to the area of another such fire protection district.

2.

The adjustment of the boundaries of fire protection districts pursuant to this section must be approved by:

(a) A majority of the owners of property located within the portions of those districts directly affected by the proposed adjustment of boundaries;

and (b) Resolution of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the districts are located, which resolution must also be approved by the governing bodies of the fire protection districts whose boundaries are proposed to be adjusted.

 For the purposes of this subsection, an owner of property located within a fire protection district is “directly affected” by a proposed adjustment of boundaries if the adjustment will cause that property, or other property immediately adjacent to that property, to be excluded from the district in which it is currently located and added to a district other than that in which it is currently located.

3.

If, after notice and a hearing, the board of county commissioners determines that the proposed adjustment of boundaries is feasible and in the best interests of the county and the districts whose boundaries are proposed to be adjusted, the board of county commissioners shall adopt an ordinance adjusting the boundaries of those districts.

The ordinance must include the name and boundaries of each district that will result from the adjustment.

4.

For the purposes of subsection 3, a board of county commissioners shall not determine that a proposed adjustment of boundaries is feasible and in the best interests of the county and the - *SB319_R1* – 9 – districts whose boundaries are proposed to be adjusted unless the board concludes, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that:

(a) The total assessed valuation of taxable property in the districts whose boundaries are proposed to be adjusted is substantially equivalent;

and (b) The total ad valorem tax levied within the districts whose boundaries are proposed to be adjusted is substantially equivalent.

5.

The board of county commissioners shall cause a copy of any ordinance adopted pursuant to subsection 3 to be certified by the clerk of the board and filed immediately for record in the office of the county recorder.

6.

If an adjustment of boundaries pursuant to this section causes:

(a) Part of the area of one fire protection district to be excluded from that district and added to the area of another fire protection district, the districts may, but are not required to, enter into such an agreement as they determine equitable to address the apportionment of debts, obligations, liabilities and assets.

(b) All of the area of one fire protection district to be excluded from that district and added to the area of another fire protection district, the debts, obligations, liabilities and assets of the district from which the area is excluded must be assumed by the district to which the area is added.

Sec.

13.

NRS 474.580 is hereby amended to read as follows:

474.580 1.

Any owner of lands within a fire protection district created pursuant to this chapter shall eliminate and remove a fire hazard on the owner’s property when directed to do so by the board.

2.

If the owner does not comply within the time specified by the board, the board may eliminate and remove the fire hazard in the manner permitted by NRS 474.160 or 474.470 [,] or section 3 of this act, whichever applies, and may for this purpose contract with any person for the performance of the work.

3.

The cost incurred by the district in eliminating and removing the fire hazard may be recovered directly from the owner of the property or the district may make the cost a special assessment against the real property.

The special assessment may be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary county taxes are collected, and is subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for ordinary county taxes.

All laws applicable to the collection and enforcement of county taxes are applicable to the special assessment.

4.

As used in this section, “board” means the board of directors or the board of fire commissioners of the district, as the case may be.

- *SB319_R1* – 10 – Sec.

14.

Section 1.090 of the Charter of the City of Reno, being chapter 662, Statutes of Nevada 1971, as last amended by chapter 163, Statutes of Nevada 2015, at page 767, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Sec.

1.090 Appointive officers and appointive employees.

1.

The City Council shall provide for the appointment of a City Manager and a City Clerk.

2.

The City Manager shall appoint a Chief of Police and , unless otherwise appointed pursuant to section 5 of this act, a Fire Chief, subject to ratification by the City Council.

If a person so nominated is not confirmed, the City Manager shall continue to submit nominations until a nominee is confirmed.

3.

The following are appointive officers:

(a) The City Manager, Assistant City Managers, Chief of Staff of the City Manager, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police, Fire Chief, the heads of each department and the assistant heads of each department.

(b) The City Clerk, Chief Deputy City Clerk and Manager of Record Systems.

(c) Every Chief Deputy City Attorney.

(d) The Deputy City Assessor, if the City Council appoints a person as the Deputy City Assessor pursuant to section 3.080.

(e) The Deputy City Treasurer, if the City Treasurer appoints a person other than the City Clerk to be Deputy City Treasurer pursuant to section 3.090.

4.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the City Council may establish such other appointive offices and appointive positions as it may deem necessary for the operation of the City by designating the office or position and the minimum qualifications therefor by ordinance.

The number of appointive positions established by the City Council pursuant to this subsection must not exceed the greater of:

(a) Forty full-time equivalent appointive positions;

or (b) Four percent of the total number of:

(1) Appointive officers described in subsection 3;

and (2) All full-time equivalent positions in the Civil Service.

5.

Appointive employees:

(a) Are not appointive officers but regularly assist an appointive officer;

- *SB319_R1* – 11 – (b) Have duties that consist of administrative work directly related to management policies;

and (c) Have positions that require them customarily to exercise discretion and independent judgment.

6.

No person who is an employee of the City’s:

(a) Police Department is an appointive officer or appointive employee, other than the Chief of Police and the Assistant Chief of Police.

(b) Fire Department is an appointive officer or appointive employee, other than the Fire Chief.

7.

On or before June 30 of each fiscal year, the City Manager shall prepare and file with the City Clerk a document that sets forth the organization of every department and other office of the City.

The document must include, without limitation, a description of the job responsibilities of each appointive officer and appointive employee.

Sec.

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners shall, by interlocal agreement adopted in accordance with the provisions of NRS 277.080 to 277.180, inclusive, establish a board to study the creation of a county fire protection district pursuant to the provisions of sections 2 to 11, inclusive, of this act to consolidate fire protection services within territory within Washoe County and the Cities of Reno and Sparks.

(a)- Two83rd membersSession of(2025) the– Washoe2 County– Board of County Commissioners, appointed by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners;

[and] - *SB319_R1* – 12 – (d) Determine and review the amount of any debt and liabilities of each former fire protection district or fire department consolidated into a county fire protection district for the purposes of determining how any such debt and liabilities may be settled ororposes of paid;

(f) Perform any other acts necessary, proper and convenient to accomplish the purposes of sections 2 to 11, inclusive, of this act;section;

and (g) Not later than JulyDecember 1,31, 2026, prepare a written report for transmission to the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, Reno City Council and Sparks City Council with the results and recommendations of the board and any recommendations for legislation.

5.in carrying out the requirements of this section.to assist the board 6.

The board may contract with other entities to assist the board in carrying out the requirements of this section.

6.

Sec.Secs.

15.5.15.5 and 16.

The(Deleted amendatory provisions of this act do not apply to any contract for mutual aid or a similar agreement entered into by theamendment.) countySec. or an incorporated city in the county until a county fire protection district is established pursuant to section 2 of this act.

Sec.

16.

Notwithstanding any provision of sections 2 to 11, inclusive, of this act to the contrary, the provisions of those sections must not be applied to modify, directly or indirectly, any taxes levied or revenues pledged in such a manner as to impair adversely any outstanding obligations of any county, city or town, including, without limitation, bonds, medium-term financing, letters of credit and any other financial obligations, until all such obligations have been discharged in full or provision for their payment or redemption has been made.

Sec.

- 83rd Session (2025) – 3 – Sec.

- *SB319_R1* – 13 – 3.

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