HB 2326, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D–Lakewood), allows fire protection districts to capture uncovered areas of their district with a voter-approved emergency medical service (EMS) levy.

The bill says that a fire protection district (that is partially overlaid by another taxing district's EMS levy) can initiate their own EMS levy to the voters for the uncovered portions of the fire district (if it’s not already subject to existing EMS services by another taxing district). The bill calls these uncovered EMS areas “nonoverlay portions.”

A fire protection district can refer a new levy to the voters if:

• It clearly identifies the geographic boundaries of the nonoverlay portion;
• The fire protection district boundaries (for EMS levy purposes only) do not include any areas of the taxing district outside of the nonoverlay portion;
• The voters in the nonoverlay portion approve the levy;
• The levy amount does not exceed the maximum rate allowed; and
• The levy is administered and collected by the county treasurers serving the nonoverlay portion of the fire protection district.

Dates to remember

HB 2326 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on Thursday, January 22, at 1:30 pm.