Bill Summary for Bill Number SB14-008

Date: 04/17/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-008

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-008 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

11:36 AM -- SB14-008

Representative Dore and Representative Exum presented and summarized Senate Bill 14-008 concerning the creation of the Wildfire Information and Resource Center (WIRC). The reengrossed bill, recommended by the Wildfire Matters Review Committees, creates the WIRC in the Department of Public Safety. Within the department, the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is charged with collecting wildfire-related information and links in an on-line resource for homeowners, fire professionals, the media, and educators. The WIRC must present information related to:

• current wildfires and prescribed burns;
• wildfire prevention and preparation;
• statewide fire conditions;
• fire training;
• funding for wildfire mitigation; and
• other research and information at the discretion of the director of the DFPC.

The DFPC is authorized to engage in a public-private partnership and to utilize grants and donations for the WIRC. However, implementation of the WIRC does not rely on gifts, grants, or donations.

Representative Exum answered questions from the committee regarding the availability of real-time information for the public. Representative Dore answered questions from the committee regarding current procedures to alert citizens on fire incidents. He discussed a real-time interface for people interested in obtaining information.

11:43 AM -- Paul Cooke, Director, DFPC, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the importance of providing information to the public and the ability of real time reporting.

11:46 AM -- Ted Leighty, Colorado Association of Realtors, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the need of the bill to provide resources for homeowners regarding wildfire risks.

Representative Dore provided a closing statement on the bill.


BILL:	SB14-008
TIME:	11:48:32 AM
MOVED:	Dore
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-008 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:	Exum
		VOTE
	Dore	Yes
	Exum	Yes
	Garcia	Excused
	Gardner	Excused
	Landgraf	Excused
	Lebsock	Yes
	Navarro	Yes
	Rankin	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
	Wright	Yes
	Singer	Excused
	Fields	Yes

FINAL YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:51 AM

The committee adjourned.