Date: 03/17/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-020

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion
Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-020, as amended, to
Pass Without Objection
PASS



02:03 PM


The committee chair, Representative Peniston, called the meeting to order.


02:04 PM -- Senate Bill 09-020

Representative Scanlan, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-020, concerning the command chain for wild land-urban fires, explained that the bill was recommended by the 2008 Interim Committee on Wildfire Issues in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas. She discussed the impact of the bark beetle epidemic on forests in Colorado and the increasing wildfire danger in the state. She explained that Senate Bill 09-020 provides for a unified command structure for the management of wild land fires in the state. The bill also addresses the adoption of a county wildfire preparedness plan for the unincorporated area of the county and urges cooperation between a county sheriff and any fire districts with jurisdiction over unincorporated areas. She addressed questions from the committee members concerning forests destroyed by bark beetles in the state and wildfire preparedness plans that are addressed by the bill.

02:09 PM

Joe Pelle, County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and discussed the strike-below amendment that was adopted in the Senate. Sheriff Pelle discussed the statutory powers of county sheriffs and fire district chiefs and talked about the need for a unified command structure for the management of wild land fires in the state. He explained the provisions of the bill and discussed the need for local and state entities to have guidance on the primary responsibilities for fighting wild land fires.

02:12 PM

Dave Parmley, Fire Chief, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the high risk for severe wildfires in the state. Chief Parmley talked about the need for clarification in state law to organize the command structure for the management of wild land fires in the state. He also discussed the process of using local incident management teams to manage wildfires that exceed the capabilities of local fire districts and require mutual aid and outside resources. Chief Parmley addressed questions from the committee concerning the risk of wildfire in the Lake Dillon Fire District.

02:19 PM

Representative Scanlan explained prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment A).
BILL:SB09-020
TIME: 02:20:12 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Schafer S.
VOTE
Acree
Bradford
Liston
McKinley
Middleton
Schafer S.
Tipton
Vigil
Excused
Waller
Soper
Peniston
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

090317AttachA.pdf

02:20 PM

Representative Scanlan entered closing comments on the bill.

BILL:SB09-020
TIME: 02:21:17 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-020, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Bradford
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Excused
Waller
Yes
Soper
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS