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Minutes for HB2066 - Committee on Taxation
Short Title
Providing for a property tax exemption for up to two motor vehicles for firefighters and emergency medical service providers.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 2, 2023
Chairperson Smith opened the hearing for HB2066.
Adam Siebers, Assistant Revisor, presented an overview for HB2066 that provides a property tax exemption for up to two motor vehicles owned by a resident individual who is: (Attachment 1)
- a firefighter on the date the individual's application for registration and status as a firefighter is confirmed by the fire district, fire department or fire company.
- Individual is an emergency service provider on the date of the individual's application and their status would be confirmed by the entity of which the individual serves.
Kathleen Smith, Kansas Department of Revenue, provided information on the fiscal note for HB2066. Passage of the bill is estimated to decrease revenue to the two building funds by $142,800 in FY 2024 with $95,200 from the educational building fund and $47,600 from the state institutions building fund. HB2066 would also decrease the revenues to any local government that levies property tax which was not estimated. To formulate the estimate, information was gathered from the Kansas State Firefighters Association and the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services that revealed there are approximately 16,000 firefighters and 9,500 emergency medical service providers. The average property taxes paid per motor vehicle was $205 in 2022 and of that amount $2.80 goes to the two building funds. Ms. Smith stood for questions from Committee members.
In response to a question, Ms. Smith will research the number of firefighters and emergency medical service volunteers in the state of Kansas.
Representative Stephen Owens, House District 74, testified as a proponent for HB2066 noting there is a significant decrease of people who are willing to volunteer in today's world. Currently there are 80.0 percent of fire and EMS services who volunteer across the state of Kansas. HB2066 is a way for cities, counties and state to offer some form of compensation to retain and to influence volunteers. (Attachment 2) Representative Owens stood for questions from Committee members.
In response to a question, Chairperson Smith stated as the bill is drafted it does cover all EMS and firefighters.
Anderson Lowe, Emergency Services, Halstead, Kansas testified as a proponent for HB2066 noting agencies across Kansas are dealing with staffing issues and cost. HB2066 offers compensation for those working the front line fires and EMS calls with communities. Mr. Lowe stated the cost of the bill outweighs the benefits of HB2066. (Attachment 3)
Jason Hartman, Kansas Forest Service, testified as a proponent for HB2066 noting this bill will provide some additional incentives to recruit and retain firefighters. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report shows a 4.0 percent decrease in the number of firefighters since 2019 and volunteer numbers are at the lowest number since 1991. Small communities are hit the hardest due to shrinking and aging population. The labor shortage provides a hardship on both the volunteer and career firefighters. (Attachment 4)
Chrissy Bartel, Norwich Ambulance Service, testified as a proponent for HB2066 representing fifteen volunteers that serve a population of two counties of about 1200 citizens covering 300 square miles. She stated they have picked up another community who lost its ambulance service due to no volunteers and noted other communities potentially have the same situation which burdens their volunteers. Across the state the average volunteer age for EMS is middle-aged and older and theyt are unable to recruit the younger generation. Ms. Bartel urged the Committee to consider funding some sort of incentive so they can continue to provide quality pre-hospital care to citizens across the state. (Attachment 5)
The conferees stood for questions from the Committee.
Written testimony was submitted by the following as proponents for HB2066:
Steve Hirsch, Kansas State Firefighters Association, (Attachment 6)
Opponent:
Written testimony was submitted by Spencer Duncan, League of Kansas Municipalities as an opponent for HB2066. (Attachment 7)
Neutral:
Written testimony was submitted by Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties as neutral for HB2066. (Attachment 8)
Chairperson Smith closed the hearing for HB2066.
