CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
HOUSE BILL 1978
Chapter 16, Laws of 2024
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
INTRASTATE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM—SPECIAL PURPOSE AND JUNIOR TAXING
DISTRICTS
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6, 2024
Passed by the House February 6, 2024 CERTIFICATE
Yeas 97 Nays 0
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
House of Representatives of the
LAURIE JINKINS State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of certify that the attached is HOUSE
Representatives BILL 1978 as passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate on
the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate February 27,
2024 BERNARD DEAN
Yeas 49 Nays 0 Chief Clerk
DENNY HECK
President of the Senate
Approved March 7, 2024 11:21 AM FILED
March 7, 2024
Secretary of State
JAY INSLEE State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
 HOUSE BILL 1978
Passed Legislature - 2024 Regular Session
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule, Volz, Ryu, Ramel, Ormsby, and Reeves; by
request of Military Department
Prefiled 12/20/23. Read first time 01/08/24. Referred to Committee
on Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans.
1 AN ACT Relating to the addition of special purpose and junior
2 taxing districts to the intrastate mutual aid system; and amending
3 RCW 38.56.020.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5 Sec. 1. RCW 38.56.020 and 2011 c 79 s 2 are each amended to read
6 as follows:
7 (1) The intrastate mutual aid system is established to provide
8 for mutual assistance in an emergency among political subdivisions
9 and federally recognized Indian tribes that choose to participate as
10 member jurisdictions.
11 (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, member
12 jurisdictions of the intrastate mutual aid system include:
13 (a) A political subdivision, special purpose district as defined
14 in RCW 36.96.010, or junior taxing district as described in RCW
15 84.52.043; and
16 (b) Any federally recognized Indian tribe located within the
17 boundaries of the state of Washington upon receipt by the department
18 of a tribal government resolution declaring its intention to be a
19 member jurisdiction in the intrastate mutual aid system under this
20 chapter.
p. 1 HB 1978.SL
 1 (3)(a) A member jurisdiction is released from membership in the
2 intrastate mutual aid system established under this chapter upon
3 receipt by the department of a resolution or ordinance declaring that
4 the member jurisdiction elects not to participate in the system.
5 (b) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to affect other
6 mutual aid systems or agreements otherwise authorized by law,
7 including the Washington state fire services mobilization plan and
8 the law enforcement mobilization plan under chapter 43.43 RCW, nor
9 preclude a political subdivision or Indian tribe from entering or
10 participating in those mutual aid systems or agreements.
11 (4) Mutual assistance may be requested by, and provided to,
12 member jurisdictions under this chapter for: (a) Response,
13 mitigation, or recovery activities related to an emergency; or (b)
14 participation in drills or exercises in preparation for an emergency.
Passed by the House February 6, 2024.
Passed by the Senate February 27, 2024.
Approved by the Governor March 7, 2024.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 7, 2024.
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1978.SL


Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 38.56.020
Bill as Passed Legislature: 38.56.020
Session Law: 38.56.020