SB222: Bill Text

LRB-2946/1

MES:kmg:jf

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Senate BILL 222

July 30, 2003 - Introduced by Senators Darling, Brown, Kanavas and Roessler, cosponsored by Representatives Wasserman, Gielow, Jeskewitz, Hines, Hahn, Gunderson, Seratti, LeMahieu, Ladwig, Loeffelholz, Olsen, Friske, Kreibich, Berceau, Petrowski, Nass, Huber, Vrakas, McCormick and Van Roy. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Information Infrastructure.

SB222,1,2 An Act to amend 61.65 (8) and 62.13 (8) of the statutes; relating to: expanding reimbursements to cities and villages for fire calls on certain highways.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, if a town incurs costs for a fire call on a state trunk highway or any highway that is a part of the national system of interstate highways and maintained by the Department of Transportation (DOT), DOT is required to reimburse the town up to $500 for the costs, even if the fire equipment is not actually used, if the town submits written proof that the town has made a reasonable effort to collect the costs from the person to whom the fire call was provided. If the town collects the costs from such a person after DOT has reimbursed the town, the town is required to return the amount collected to DOT.

Also under current law, if a village has a volunteer fire department and if a city has a combination paid and volunteer fire department, DOT is required to reimburse such a village or city up to $500 for a fire call on a state trunk highway or any highway that is a part of the national system of interstate highways and maintained by DOT.

This bill requires DOT to reimburse a village or city for such fire calls without regard to whether the fire department is paid, volunteer, or a combination paid and volunteer department.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB222, s. 1 Section 1. 61.65 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB222,2,5 61.65 (8) Any village having a volunteer fire department shall be reimbursed by the department of transportation not to exceed $500 for any fire call on a state trunk highway or any highway that is a part of the national system of interstate highways maintained by the department of transportation.

SB222, s. 2 Section 2. 62.13 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB222,2,13 62.13 (8) Fire department. The council may provide by ordinance for either a paid or a volunteer fire department and for the management and equipment of either insofar as not otherwise provided for by law. In the case where a combination of paid and volunteer fire department is provided for, such Any city shall be reimbursed by the department of transportation, not to exceed $500 for any fire calls on a state trunk highway or on any highway that is a part of the national system of interstate highways and is maintained by the department of transportation.

SB222, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB222,2,16 (1) This act first applies to fire calls that occur on the effective date of this subsection.

SB222,2,17 (End)