Freshman legislator, Rep. Brian Burnett, R-Wenatchee, saw his first piece of legislation pass the state House of Representatives Saturday night.
Burnett's proposal, House Bill 1969, directs the Military Department to develop and implement a Law Enforcement Aviation Support Grant Program to provide financial assistance to local law enforcement rotary wing aviation support units. The program, subject to appropriations, will then provide - at no cost - aviation support to a jurisdiction when an aircraft is available.
"We've got to do more to keep our sheriff's offices financially viable. As the search and rescue operations that fall within the purview of the local sheriff's office continue to increase, so does the drain on resources," said Burnett, who served 12 years as the Chelan County Sheriff. "We have a handful of counties providing aviation support to other jurisdictions that request it during times of need. As a result, the taxpayers of those counties are subsidizing rescue efforts in other counties."
"When a call comes in for a search and rescue operation, time is of the essence, obviously," said Burnett. "We just go. There's not even a thought about expenses or who's paying for what. If you have the aircraft available, you just go. Hopefully, the rescue is successful and lives are saved.
"But at some point, the bill comes due. With the increasing population growth and tourist activities up and down the I-90 corridor, resources can be quickly spent and overwhelmed," said Burnett.
Currently, the four counties providing aviation support are Chelan, King, Snohomish, and Spokane.
The grant program created by Burnett's bill would help pay for maintenance, fuel, parts, and training.
"A dedicated fund for helicopter rescue units will help keep pace with the growing demand for high-altitude and specialty rescues that require immediate air support," said Burnett. "We need to preserve the ability to share our helicopters for those jurisdictions that request our help. But we also need to keep the program viable and even grow it."
Burnett's bill passed unanimously and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
In other legislation debated on Saturday, Majority Democrats in the state House of Representatives rejected 27 Republican amendments before passing a bill requiring a state permit to purchase firearms.
House Bill 1163 would require gun buyers to apply for a permit from the Washington State Patrol involving a lengthy waiting period, but only after completing a firearms safety course. House Republicans, including Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, said gun owners in his district are writing him, asking why they shouldn't move out of Washington state.
"It's deeply contrary to the values of the people of the 7th District who have a long and well-known history of responsible gun ownership and responsible exercise of their Second Amendment rights," said Rep. Abell.
Aberdeen Representative Jim Walsh argued the bill is yet another attack against constitutional rights and law-abiding gun owners.
"First, it violates your due process rights. That's Article 1, Section 3 of the Washington State Constitution. Second, it violates your privacy rights. That's Article 1, Section 7, and third, it violates your rights to defend yourself with a firearm," Walsh concluded.
The measure passed on a party-line vote, 58 to 38. It now goes to the Senate.
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