SB1681 Summary: Regional Fire Protection Agency Act

• Establishes procedures for creating Regional Fire Protection Agencies through voter-initiated petitions, combining 2 or more contiguous fire protection jurisdictions under unified command to reduce duplicative costs without reducing service quality or increasing response times.

• Requires petitions signed by the lesser of 8% of gubernatorial election voters or 500 legal voters in each participating jurisdiction, filed in circuit court for a hearing and referendum.

• Mandates formation of a Joint Committee including representatives from participating municipalities, collective bargaining units, and petitioners; negotiations mediated by a qualified special mediator to develop intergovernmental agreements.

• Regional Fire Protection Agencies governed by a 5-member Board of Trustees with no independent taxing power; funded by contributions from component jurisdictions and subject to state enforcement mechanisms including revenue interception for payment defaults.

• Allows dissolution of agencies by voter referendum with assets and personnel reverting proportionally to original jurisdictions within 120 days of approval.