Date: 03/10/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB10-102

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 10-102 to the Committee PASS



02:03 PM -- Senate Bill 10-102

Representative Fischer, sponsor, presented SB10-102, concerning the certification of users of prescribed fire according to standards established by the Colorado State Forest Service. This bill requires the Colorado State Forester (CSF) in the Department of Higher Education to establish standards for training and for certification of prescribed fire users. The CSF will work with the Colorado Prescribed Fire Council, a nonprofit organization that works for appropriate and safe prescribed fire use, and may work with local fire jurisdictions.

The following individuals testified on the bill:

02:06 PM -- Richard Homann, Colorado State Forest Service, spoke in support of the bill. He explained that much of Colorado is comprised of forest dependant communities. In response to questions from the committee, he discussed the definition of certified burner designations.

02:11 PM -- Justin Whitesell, Colorado Perscribed Fire Council, spoke in support of the billand explained the history and mission of his organization. He explained the need for certification standards and explained that he views the standards as an educational opportunity. He discussed how the bill would affect private landowners and other parties interested in burning their land.

02:20 PM

The committee discussed the language of the bill in the context of the statute.

02:25 PM

Mr. Homann retruned to the table to address a question from the committee about whether the State Forest Service can already do the activities in the bill. He also discussed the purpose of designating certified or noncertified burners.
BILL:SB10-102
TIME: 02:40:26 PM
MOVED:Fischer
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 10-102 to the Committee of the Whole, without amendment. The motion passed on a vote of 9-4.
SECONDED:Hullinghorst
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Curry
Yes
Gardner C.
No
Hullinghorst
Yes
Looper
Yes
McKinley
No
Ryden
Yes
Solano
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Tipton
No
Vigil
Yes
Pace
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:46 PM

The committee adjourned.