HCS/SCS/SB 968 - This act defines a "fire department" as an agency or organization that provides fire suppression activities. The term fire department shall include any municipal fire department, fire protection district, or voluntary fire protection association engaging in this type of activity. This act also requires "volunteer fire protection associations" to provide fire suppression and related activities. Under this act, all fire protection districts, volunteer fire protection associations, and fire department must complete and file a fire department registration form with the State Fire Marshal with 60 days after January 1, 2007 and annually thereafter. The state Fire Marshal may issue an identification number to each registered entity and conduct periodic reviews of the information provided on the registration forms. This act requires volunteer fire protection associations to identify their boundaries and file them with the county, rather than allowing them to do so. Any volunteer fire protection association is prohibited from encroaching upon or including any portion of another fire department's legally established boundaries. After January 1, 2007, the creation of a fire protection district in St. Louis County shall require the authorization of all adjacent fire protection districts then existing. The authorization requires a resolution adopted by the boards of the adjacent fire protection districts. This act is similar to certain provisions of CCS/HCS/SCS/SB 666 (2006). SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE