House Bill 2418 proposes the creation of the Fire District Advisory Board (Board) in Arizona, with the purpose of ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of emergency services throughout the state. The Board would be composed of 10 members with specified qualifications and appointed by various authorities, including the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate. The Board would have the authority to make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, apply for grants, check compliance with training requirements, evaluate fire district budgets, and potentially require studies on merger or consolidation of fire districts. It would also have the ability to evaluate the need for expanding fire district governing boards, review tax levies, establish procurement authorities, accept contributions, and recommend national standards for fire district operations.

The bill outlines the administrative support to be provided by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and sets a termination date for the Board on June 30, 2029, with a repeal of the relevant statutes on January 1, 2030. The bill also includes definitions for terms such as "Director," "Fire district," and "Governing body," and specifies the duties and powers of the Board, including holding public meetings, evaluating compliance with training requirements, and recommending state appropriations and programs for fire services improvement.

Statutes affected:
House Engrossed Version: 41-3029.13, 48-803, 48-805.02, 48-820, 48-822