Existing law authorizes contiguous unincorporated territory lying within one or more counties or incorporated territory lying within a consolidated municipality and not included in any other fire protection district to, by petition and election, be formed into a county fire protection district. (NRS 474.010-474.125) Existing law also authorizes a board of county commissioners to, by ordinance, organize unincorporated territory within the county into a county fire protection district. (NRS 474.460) Existing law further authorizes a board of county commissioners in a county whose population is less than 700,000 (currently all counties other than Clark County) to consolidate two or more county fire protection districts within the county under certain circumstances. (NRS 474.533) Section 2 of this bill authorizes the governing body of a county whose population is 100,000 or more but less than 700,000 (currently only Washoe County) and each incorporated city within such a county (currently the cities of Reno and Sparks) to, by interlocal agreement, consolidate any contiguous unincorporated territory within the county and any incorporated territory within the cities into a county fire protection district. Section 2 requires: (1) the interlocal agreement to establish the boundaries of the county fire protection district; and (2) the county fire protection district to be governed by a board of fire commissioners composed of two members of the board of county commissioners and two members from each of the governing bodies of each participating city. Section 2 further requires that any action of the board of fire commissioners must be approved by a majority of the members and at least one member appointed by each participating governing body. Section 3 of this bill sets forth the powers and duties of the board of fire commissioners. Section 4 of this bill requires the board of fire commissioners to cooperate with the State Forester Firewarden to coordinate certain activities. Section 5 of this bill authorizes the board of fire commissioners to appoint a district fire chief or enter into agreements with certain agencies, associations or volunteer fire departments to provide fire protection services to the district. Section 6 of this bill authorizes a board of fire commissioners to acquire certain property. Section 7 of this bill requires the board of fire commissioners to prepare an annual budget. If the board of fire commissioners determines an assessment is necessary to pay the expenses of the district, section 8 of this bill requires the board of county commissioners to certify the assessment to the county assessor to be entered on the assessment roll. Section 9 of this bill establishes a limit on the indebtedness of the district. Section 10 of this bill provides for the payment of claims against the district. Section 11 of this bill provides that if the district is dissolved by interlocal agreement and there is outstanding indebtedness, taxes must be levied to continue paying the debt. Section 12 of this bill applies procedures for the adjustment of the boundaries of the district to a district organized pursuant to section 2. Section 13 of this bill requires an owner of lands within the district to eliminate and remove fire hazards on the owner's property if directed to do so by the board. Section 14 of this bill provides that the appointment of a Fire Chief in such a county fire protection district is an exemption to the requirement for certain incorporated cities to appoint a Fire Chief. Section 15 of this bill requires the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, the Reno City Council and the Sparks City Council to establish, by interlocal agreement, a board to study the creation of a county fire protection district in accordance with the provisions of sections 2-11.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 474.565, 474.580
BDR: 474.565, 474.580