justicedao/ipfs_state_laws huggingface dataset:
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.260. Fire chief; headquarters; fire evacuation routes; emergency medical services. (1) The district board shall select a fire chief qualified by actual experience as a firefighter and person who is trained in fire prevention, or otherwise, and assistants, volunteer or otherwise, and fix their compensation. The fire chief shall be responsible for the equipment and properties of the district. Under the direction of the board, the fire chief shall be responsible for the conduct of the fire department. (2) The board, with advice and counsel of the fire chief, shall select the location of the fire house or houses or headquarters of the fire department of the district. Such sites shall be chosen with a view to the best service to the residents and properties of the whole district and may be acquired by purchase or exercise of the powers of eminent domain in the manner provided by ORS chapter 35. The board may purchase apparatus and equipment as needed by the district, and provide a water system, ponds or reservoirs for the storage of water for fire-fighting purposes. Or the board may contract with water companies or districts, or both, for water service and facilities at a rate of compensation mutually agreed upon. The board also may divide the district into zones or subdivisions and provide an adequate system or code of fire alarms or signals by telephone, bell, whistle, siren or other means of communication. (3) A district may: (a) Acquire real property or an easement, by purchase or other voluntary agreement, for the purpose of establishing a fire evacuation route. (b) Construct or maintain a fire evacuation route on property: (A) Owned by the district or over which the district has an easement for the purpose of a fire evacuation route; or (B) Owned by a person or governmental entity or over which a person or governmental entity has an easement for the purpose of a fire evacuation route, with authorization from the person or governmental entity. (c) Participate in an agreement related to the construction, maintenance or use of a fire evacuation route. (4) A district may operate or acquire and operate, or contract for the operation of, emergency medical service equipment and vehicles both within and without the boundaries of the district. A district may conduct ambulance operations only in conformance with a county plan adopted under ORS 682.062 for ambulance services and ambulance service areas and with rules of the Oregon Health Authority relating to such services and service areas. Service authorized under a county plan includes authorization for a district to provide ambulance services by intergovernmental agreement with any other unit of local government designated by the plan to provide ambulance services. (5) As used in this section, ambulance services has the meaning given that term in ORS 682.027.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.270. Reports of directors; State Fire Marshal cooperation; uniform forms. (1) The district board shall report monthly to the State Fire Marshal, upon forms prescribed by the State Fire Marshal, information the State Fire Marshal may require, and shall, at any time, upon request furnish further report or information required by the State Fire Marshal. (2) The State Fire Marshal shall cooperate in the formation, operation and administration of districts. The Department of the State Fire Marshal shall prepare and make available uniform forms for reports required by this section and other uniform forms and blanks the State Fire Marshal considers advisable.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.280. Employment of assistants. The board of directors may employ assistants as necessary or convenient in carrying on the work of the district and fix their compensation. The expenses of directors actually incurred in the service of the district may be paid by the board. [Amended by 1969 c.667 19]
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.290. Additional authority of districts within 10-mile radius of city of 100,000 or more. Districts situated within a radius of 10 miles of a city of over 100,000 population may, in addition to the powers granted by ORS 478.210, 478.221 and
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.300. Contracting with others to provide facilities and services for fire protection or road lighting; authority over open burning and fire permits; rules. (1) In addition to the authority to enter into intergovernmental agreements under ORS chapter 190, a rural fire protection district or other public body as defined in ORS 174.109 may contract with any person for the purpose of affording fire fighting, protection or prevention facilities or road-lighting facilities and services, or both, to such person. (2) When any agreement or contract is entered into pursuant to ORS chapter 190 or subsection (1) of this section to provide fire protection service, the rural fire protection district or other public body providing such service shall have authority over open burning and the issuance of fire permits in the area served, and may in accordance with this chapter make reasonable rules and regulations relating thereto.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.305. Contracting with others for mutual communication system; contracts in other states. (1) Any district may contract with other rural fire protection districts or cities operating a fire department for the establishment and maintenance of a mutual communication system for fire prevention and protection and may, in cooperation with the other contracting party or parties, provide for a joint board of control composed of representatives of the contracting parties, to control the operations of such communication system. (2) Any district any portion of whose boundary coincides with the boundary of this state may contract with any public agency of, or person in, an adjoining state for the purpose of receiving or furnishing fire protection or for the purpose of water supply for fire fighting.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.308. Contracting with others for regional oil and hazardous material emergency response team. (1) Any district may contract with another rural fire protection district, city or county to establish, operate and maintain a regional oil and hazardous material emergency response team. The contracting parties may provide for a joint board of control, composed of representatives of the contracting parties, to control the operation of the regional emergency response team. (2) A rural fire protection district may receive a grant under section 42, chapter 539, Oregon Laws 1987. (3) Any district whose boundary coincides with the boundary of this state may contract with a public agency or person in an adjoining state for the purpose of responding to spills or releases of oil and hazardous material. (4) As used in this section, hazardous material, oil, person and spill or release have the meaning established in ORS 466.605.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.310. Response to fire or public safety incident outside its own territory by district or municipality; liability for costs. (1) When a fire or public safety incident occurs outside the limits of a district or of a city and help is asked of the district or city, the fire-fighting or public safety apparatus and force of the district or city may, with or without a contract to do so, be used for extinguishing the fire or responding to the public safety incident in the other unprotected or inadequately protected district or territory. However, the district or city so responding shall be paid the contract or reasonable value for use, including repairs and depreciation, of the apparatus and equipment so used and other expenses reasonably incurred in furnishing the fire-fighting or public safety service. (2) When a district or city responds to a call for assistance arising from an incident involving an airplane crash or an occurrence on a transportation route within the city or district, the district or city may recover from the person or property receiving the direct fire or safety services as a result of the incident any cost incurred for the following: (a) The contract or reasonable value of the use, including repairs and depreciation, of the apparatus and equipment used in accordance with a state standardized-costs schedule issued by the State Fire Marshal; and (b) Other expenses or costs reasonably incurred in furnishing the assistance, as adopted by the service provider. (3) As used in this section, transportation route means a roadway, waterway or railroad right of way against which no taxes or assessments for fire protection are levied by the district or city. (4) The provisions of this section do not apply to fire incidents involving only forest resources that occur on lands protected under ORS chapter 477.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.315. Response to fire or public safety incident in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; payment of costs. (1) When a district is located entirely or partly within the boundaries of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area established under 16 U.S.C. 544 et seq., if a fire or other public safety incident occurs on state property within the limits of the district and assistance from the district is requested, the fire-fighting and emergency medical vehicles, apparatus and personnel of the district may, with or without a contract to do so, be used for extinguishing the fire or responding to the public safety incident. The district so responding shall recover from the state agency in possession or control of the property: (a) The amount due under a contract with the state agency for the services provided by the district; or (b) If there is no contract, the actual costs incurred by the district in extinguishing the fire or responding to the public safety incident. (2) When vehicles, apparatus and personnel are used under subsection (1) of this section, the state agency requesting assistance shall be liable and shall pay the amount due under the contract, if any, or the actual costs incurred by the district. A claim for such costs shall not be allowed unless, within 60 days after the costs have been incurred, an itemized statement of the actual costs, certified under oath by the treasurer of the district, and a demand for payment are served by mail or personal service upon the state agency. Such costs shall be payable from moneys made available to the state agency for such purpose. (3) If any such costs are not paid within 90 days after the itemized statement of actual costs and demand for payment are received by the state agency, the district may bring an action against the state agency for the recovery of such unpaid costs. (4) As used in this section, state property means any public land or other real property controlled by any agency of the State of Oregon and against which no taxes or assessments for fire protection are levied by a district. (5) The provisions of this section do not apply to fire incidents involving only forest resources that occur on lands protected under ORS chapter 477. [1989 c.395 2; 1997 c.274 39] BENEFITS FOR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.325. District may levy taxes for purposes of ORS 478.335 to 478.370. Expenses incurred by a district in establishing programs or providing benefits authorized by ORS
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.335. Contracts for medical and hospital services or insurance. (1) A district board may enter into contracts for medical and hospital services or insurance covering employees of the district for remedial care and hospital benefits. Failure to obtain insurance or service contracts shall not be construed as negligence or lack of diligence on the part of the board or the members thereof. (2) As used in this section remedial care includes services rendered by a person licensed to practice one or more of the healing arts within the scope of the license of the person or any other remedial care recognized under the law of this state.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.340. Payment of premiums or charges on contracts; employee contributions; multiple contracts. (1) The district may agree to pay none, part or all of the premiums or charges on insurance or service contracts, and it may collect from the salary of any employee covered by the contract the percentage of the premiums or charges the employee is required to provide pursuant to the contract. Contributions for premiums or charges by employees shall be only on a voluntary basis. (2) The board may negotiate more than one contract with one or more companies or associations if necessary to obtain optimum coverage at minimum cost. (3) No premium or other periodic charge on any insurance or service contract shall be paid unless the insurer or hospital association issuing such policy or contract is authorized to transact business as an insurance company or hospital association in this state.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.355. Establishment of employee retirement system; provisions of plan. (1) A district may establish an employees retirement system pursuant to ORS 478.355 to
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.360. Fund to provide retirement benefits. The district may budget and provide for payment into the fund of the retirement plan an amount sufficient: (1) To provide, on an actuarial reserve basis, the amortized level premium cost of the retirement benefits which, under the provision of the retirement system, are to be provided by the district to its employees who attain the retirement age or retire in accordance with the terms of the retirement plan. (2) To meet the actuarially computed costs of retirement benefits measured on the basis of services rendered or to be rendered by an employee before or after the date on which such employee becomes a member of the retirement plan.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.365. Employee contributions to retirement fund. The district may collect, as a contribution from any employee, that percentage of the salary received by the employee which is necessary to fund on an actuarial reserve basis the cost of retirement benefits which the employee is required to provide pursuant to the provisions of a retirement plan.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.370. and carry out the plan and may agree to modifications of such agreements from time to time. (2) The retirement plan may provide for retirement benefits measured on the basis of services rendered or to be rendered by an employee, either before or after the date on which such employee first becomes a member of the retirement plan. The retirement plan may provide for a minimum of years of service and a minimum and maximum age of retirement for the employee.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.390. Investments authorized to fund length of service awards for volunteer firefighters. In addition to the investments authorized by ORS 294.035, the board of directors of a rural fire protection district organized under ORS chapter 478 may invest or cause to be invested any surplus funds of the district in contracts described in ORS 294.035 (3)(f) for the purpose of funding length of service awards for the volunteer firefighters of the district. [1993 c.452 2; 1995 c.245 13; 2005 c.443 30] Note:
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.410. Power of district to levy taxes, borrow money, sell bonds and create fees. (1) To provide funds for defraying expenses for the establishment, equipment and maintenance of the district, the district board may provide for a tax on the assessed value of all taxable property within the district. (2) To carry into effect any of the powers granted to the district, the district, when authorized by a majority of the voters voting at an election called for that purpose, may borrow money and sell and dispose of general obligation bonds. The total outstanding general obligation bonds, together with liabilities outstanding incurred under rental or lease-purchase agreements authorized by subsection (3) of this section, may not exceed one and one-fourth percent (0.0125) of the real market value of all taxable property within the district, computed in accordance with ORS 308.207. (3) The district board may enter into rental or lease-purchase agreements to rent, lease or acquire real or personal property, or both, required for fire-protection purposes. Except for agreements to rent, lease or acquire real property, an agreement may not run for more than 10 years or be subject to renewal. The aggregate principal obligations under the agreements, and under other like agreements, with outstanding bonded indebtedness, may not exceed the limitation imposed by subsection (2) of this section. ORS 294.305 to 294.565 do not affect or restrict the right of any district to enter into an agreement described in this subsection. (4) Unless expressly prohibited by the documents creating the district, a district board may adopt an ordinance as provided under ORS 198.510 to 198.600 to create a fee for any service provided by the district. A fee created under authority of this section may not exceed the cost to the district of providing the service. The fee authority granted to a board by this subsection is in addition to any authority granted to a board under local law or by the documents creating the district. Notwithstanding ORS 198.600, the failure to pay a fee created under authority of this section is not a violation punishable under ORS 198.600.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.420. Sale of bonds. Bonds authorized under ORS 478.410 shall be issued and sold in the manner prescribed in ORS chapter 287A. The bonds shall be so conditioned that the district agrees to pay, at the place named, to the bearer the sum named in lawful money of the United States with interest at the rate named, payable semiannually each year in accordance with the terms of interest coupons attached.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.430. Ad valorem tax. A district board shall ascertain and levy annually, in addition to all other taxes, an ad valorem tax on all the taxable property in the district, sufficient to pay the interest accruing and the principal maturing on the bonds promptly as they become due.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.440. Gifts; sinking fund. The district may receive from any source whatever, gifts, donations, bequests, money or property for any purpose consistent with the terms of this chapter. The district may, from time to time, provide from its current revenue or create or set up sinking funds to be applied to authorized expenditures contemplated to be made beyond the current tax year. [Amended by 1983 c.740 190]
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.450. Tax for road lighting; method. To provide funds for defraying expenses for the installation, maintenance and operation of the road-lighting service to the district, the district board may provide for a tax not exceeding one-tenth of one percent (0.001) of the real market value of all taxable property within the district, computed in accordance with ORS 308.207. Upon approval of the majority of the electors voting at a special election called for such purpose the board may levy a special tax of not to exceed one-fourth of one percent (0.0025) of the real market value of all taxable property within the district for this purpose, computed in accordance with ORS 308.207.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.460. Deposit and disbursement of funds. Funds collected on behalf of the district through the levy of taxes, all donations, contributions, bequests or annuities and all borrowed moneys received by or on behalf of the district shall be deposited in accordance with ORS 295.001 to 295.108 and as designated by the board. Funds shall be drawn out only upon proper order and warrant or check, bearing the signature of those persons authorized to sign warrants or checks by resolution of the board.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.470. Interest on unpaid warrants; limitation on amount of warrants. All warrants for the payment of any indebtedness of a district which are unpaid for want of funds shall bear interest at a rate to be fixed by the district board but not to exceed six percent per annum from the date of the registering of the unpaid warrants with the county treasurer. The amount of warrants outstanding shall not exceed the revenue provided for the year in which the indebtedness was incurred. [Amended by 1969 c.667 31] (Tax Zones)
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.480. Formation of tax zones; basis for zones; public hearing. (1) A district board may divide its district into zones for the purpose of imposing and levying ad valorem taxes at different rates on the assessed value of all taxable property in each zone. The establishment of zones within a district under this section shall be based upon differences in the services provided by the district to the residents and their property in each zone. (2) When a district board decides to divide the district into zones under subsection (1) of this section, it shall conduct a public hearing on the formation of the proposed zones. The hearing shall be held after notice to the public is published as provided in ORS 478.485. The notice shall set forth the date, hour and place of the hearing and the information required under ORS 478.485. The notice shall state that all interested persons may attend and shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. [1983 c.569 2,3]
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.485. Notice of public hearing. (1) The district board shall cause a notice of a public hearing relating to the formation of zones under ORS 478.480 (1) to be published once a week for two successive weeks in the newspaper in general circulation in the district which, in the judgment of the district board, will afford the best notice to the residents of the district. (2) The notice published under this section shall set forth: (a) The resolve of the district board to divide the district into zones. (b) The boundaries of the proposed zones. (c) The percentage of the total amount of ad valorem taxes of the district that will be collected in each zone.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.490. Election on question of dividing district into tax zones; order creating zones; effect. (1) After the public hearing required under ORS 478.480 (2), if the district board decides to proceed with the proposal, it shall submit the question of dividing the district into zones to the voters of the district at the next regular district election on the date specified in ORS 255.335 (1). (2) If a majority of the voters of the district voting upon the question vote in favor of dividing the district into zones, the district board shall enter an order in its journal declaring that fact. The order shall be conclusive as to the regularity of all proceedings in reference to the election and to the existence of the zones.
ORS Chapter 478 — Rural Fire Protection

ORS 478.495. Limitation on changes in tax zone boundaries. (1) When a proposal for dividing a district into zones is approved by the voters of a district, a proposal for changing the boundaries of the zones shall not be submitted to the voters at the regular district election next following such approval, but may be submitted at any regular district election thereafter. (2) Following approval of the formation of zones within a district by the voters of the district, the boundaries of the zones shall not be changed by the district board unless notice of that change is given to, and approved by, the voters of the district as provided in ORS 478.480 (2), 478.485 and 478.490.