Date: 02/20/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB14-1210

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment E). The motion p
Refer House Bill 14-1210, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



12:07 PM -- HB14-1210

Representative Gerou, sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1210, concerning a requirement that a state agency enter into an intergovernmental agreement with a county to address wildland fires affecting certain state lands located within the county. The bill requires state agencies that own forest land, rangeland, or wildland area to, by January 1, 2017, enter into agreements with counties in which the land is located. The agreement must delineate the responsibilities, objectives, authorities, and procedures of acting parties for the prevention, suppression, and rehabilitation of wildfires on state land. The bill does not apply to rights-of-way, conservation easements, or state trust lands. In addition, the bill does not require counties or state agencies to modify existing or future negotiated agreements concerning the reimbursement of wildfire suppression costs.

12:10 PM -- Paul Cooke, Director, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, spoke for questions only. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D). Director Cooke discussed the current procedure of fire prevention and suppression regardless of land ownership and costs until after an emergency is declared. He discussed the number and impact of fires on state lands.

14HseLocal0220AttachD.pdf14HseLocal0220AttachD.pdf

Representative Gerou answered questions from the committee regarding the state agencies involved in the negotiation process and the current policies of wildland fires on federal lands.

12:18 PM -- Adam Smith, representing La Plata County, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the issues related to the ambiguity of current policies addressing wildland fires. Mr. Smith said that uncertainty in the law disrupts wildlife responses. He discussed concerns that the bill does not address state trust lands.

12:24 PM -- Eric Bergman, Colorado Counties Inc., spoke in favor of the bill.

12:25 PM -- Matt Schultz, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, was neutral on the bill. He discussed current procedures for wildfire mitigation and suppression. Mr. Schultz discussed current resources for state parks to prevent and suppress wildfires and the impact assistance grants provided to local governments.

Representative Gerou answered questions from the committee regarding the ability of counties to negotiate with state agencies related to wildfires.

Representative Gerou distributed and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment E).
14HseLocal0220AttachE.pdf14HseLocal0220AttachE.pdf
BILL:HB14-1210
TIME: 12:32:15 PM
MOVED:Landgraf
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Rankin
VOTE
Dore
Exum
Garcia
Gardner
Landgraf
Lebsock
Navarro
Rankin
Rosenthal
Vigil
Wright
Singer
Fields
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Representative Gerou provided closing comments on the bill.

BILL:HB14-1210
TIME: 12:33:36 PM
MOVED:Dore
MOTION:Refer House Bill 14-1210, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:Singer
VOTE
Dore
Yes
Exum
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Gardner
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
Lebsock
Excused
Navarro
Yes
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Wright
Yes
Singer
Yes
Fields
Yes
FINAL YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS