House Committee on Local Government (04/17/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	04/17/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:37 AM to 11:51 AM	Dore	*
		Exum	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Garcia	*
		Gardner	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Landgraf	X
	Representative Fields	Lebsock	X
		Navarro	X
This Report was prepared by		Rankin	X
	Damion Pechota	Rosenthal	X
		Vigil	X
		Wright	X
		Singer	X
		Fields	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB14-046 SB14-008		Referred to Finance Referred to Appropriations

10:38 AM -- SB14-046

Representative Exum presented and summarized Senate Bill 14-046 concerning a grant program to increase local firefighter safety. The reengrossed bill creates a grant program for local fire departments to invest in equipment and training. The grant program is administered by the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) in the Department of Public Safety. The DFPC makes grant awards to the governing body of a fire department on the basis of need. To assess the need of grant applicants, the DFPC is required to conduct a Colorado Fire Service Needs Assessment (needs assessment) at least every other year. In addition, the DFPC must consider criteria and peer-review of applications as recommended by the Fire Service Training and Certification Advisory Board (the advisory board), as well as the local fire department's other efforts to finance equipment and training. The bill creates the continuously appropriated Local Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Fund (the fund). Each year, for two successive fiscal years starting July 1, 2014, the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) transfers $3.25 million in federal mineral lease (FML) revenue to the fund. The DFPC is required to make an annual report regarding the use of moneys in the fund and may expend up to three percent of the fund each year for administrative costs, including both direct and indirect costs.

Representative Exum answered questions from the committee regarding the funding source for the bill. He discussed the needs for firefighter safety in Colorado fire departments.

10:47 AM -- Paul Cooke, Director, DFPC. spoke in favor of the bill. He said that the current grant program does not meet the needs for proper fire safety control. Director Cooke discussed the importance of providing adequate training and equipment for firefighters throughout the state.

Director Cooke answered questions from the committee regarding the FML fund as the funding source for the grant program. In addition, Director Cooke answered said that this bill does not impact the funding source for the state wild fire air fleet.

10:56 AM -- Dianna Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke against the bill. She said that her organization objects to the source of funding and that it will impact funding for local communities. She said that the bill will allow non-FML communities to take advantage of the moneys. She said that this is a good program, but that the funding source will decrease funding for and impact local FML communities. Ms. Orf answered questions from the committee regarding the FML fund.

11:02 AM -- Kevin Bommer, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the equipment and training that the grant program will provide. He said that many small fire departments do not have proper equipment and training techniques. Mr. Bommer discussed the fire districts that will be impacted by the bill and provided a summary of the distribution of funds. He discussed the impact the grant program will have on the FML fund. He answered questions from the committee regarding the source of funding for the air fleet.

11:11 AM -- Bruce Eisenhauer, the Department of Local Affairs, spoke for questions only. He answered questions from the committee regarding the FML fund and the funding for the grant program. In addition, he answered questions from the committee regarding bonus payments and areas of the state that are paying into the FML fund.

11:16 AM -- Garry Briese, Colorado State Fire Chiefs, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the statewide asset of fire departments beyond local control and said that the state cannot deal with the natural disasters of the state without significant assets granted from the state. Mr. Briese discussed the role of firefighters in the communities and the dangers that firefighters respond to in order to the protect the citizen and their property. He discussed the impact inadequate equipment has on the firefighters ability to perform their duties. He discussed the health issues that firefighters have when equipped with improper safety gear. He said the grant program is important to provide an investment for proper safety procedures in protecting Colorado's communities. He answered questions from the committee regarding the health impacts on firefighters with inadequate equipment. Mr. Briese discussed the funding needs of firefighters to properly protect communities. He answered questions from the committee regarding whether standard equipment is provided to fire departments.

11:27 AM

Representative Exum provided a closing statement on the bill. In addition, he discussed other people and organizations that are in support of the bill.

The committee members discussed their positions on the bill.


BILL:	SB14-046
TIME:	11:35:56 AM
MOVED:	Exum
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-046 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 10-2.
SECONDED:	Garcia
		VOTE
	Dore	Yes
	Exum	Yes
	Garcia	Yes
	Gardner	Excused
	Landgraf	Yes
	Lebsock	Yes
	Navarro	Yes
	Rankin	No
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
	Wright	No
	Singer	Yes
	Fields	Yes

FINAL YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: 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.