Bill Summary for Bill Number HB15-1017

Date: 01/21/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1017

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001. The amendment was withdrawn Refer House Bill 15-1017 to the Committee of the W	PASS

01:31 PM -- House Bill 15-1017

Representative Fields called the meeting to order. She provided a brief introduction of the House Local Government Committee.

The committee members introduced themselves.

01:36 PM

Representatives Hamner and Buck, sponsors, provided an overview of House Bill 15-1017 concerning nongovernmental volunteer fire departments in Colorado, and, in connection therewith, enacting the "Volunteer Fire Department Organized Act." Specifically, the bill authorizes the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) within the Department of Public Safety to provide an organizational framework to nonprofit, non-governmental, volunteer fire departments in unincorporated areas of the state. To receive state support, the volunteer fire department must comply with existing laws for nonprofit corporations and must enter into an agreement with a local jurisdiction, county sheriff, or state entity. All agreements must specify the type of services that will be provided by the volunteer fire department and the boundaries of its service area. Under the bill, a volunteer fire department recognized by the state is: eligible to receive grants to provide funding for equipment and training, including moneys from the Local Fire Fighter Safety and Disease Prevention Fund; subject to donation requirements for surplus equipment; and immune from liability while performing the duties of the job.

01:39 PM -- Paul Cooke, Director, DFPC, distributed an informational document (Attachment A) and provided an overview of the division's emergency services for local governments. He said that there are large unincorporated areas of Colorado that are not under the protection of an organized fire department. Director Cooke discussed volunteer fire departments and the need for organizational framework to provide support for consistent fire protection. He said that nongovernmental volunteer fire departments are ineligible to receive federal or state grant dollars because they are not government entities. Director Cooke discussed the eligibility for funding, training, and other state services currently provided to government entities.

15HouseLocal0121AttachA.pdf

Director Cooke answered questions from the committee regarding volunteer fire departments within fire protection districts. Representative Lebsock asked about recent issues regarding local fire departments. Director Cooke discussed the concerns of wildland firefighting.

01:51 PM

Director Cooke continued to discuss concerns regarding volunteer fire departments. Representative Klingenschmitt asked a question regarding volunteer fire departments that are not recognized by the state. Director Cooke said they are still allowed to fight fires, but are not eligible for funding from the state.

01:52 PM -- Ron Bateman, Chief, Front Range Fire Rescue Authority, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the importance of the bill for providing support to rural areas of the state. Chief Bateman discussed his concerns regarding governmental immunity for volunteers.

Director Cooke was called back to the table. He said that volunteer members are protected under liability immunity and are not covered under governmental immunity, which is reserved for governmental organizations.

01:57 PM -- Jeff Dykstra, Captain, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the importance of volunteers in providing services to communities. He said that it is important that volunteers are given the proper training and equipment.

Representative Saine asked a question regarding grant funding. Captain Dykstra said that the bill helps rural districts receive funding. Representative Hamner provided an overview of the partnerships between the state government and fire departments.

02:01 PM -- Brita Horn, Chief, Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department and the need to provide services for the local community. Chief Horn discussed the importance of the state providing an organization framework.

Chief Horn answered a question from the committee and discussed the firefighter grant funding from the federal government.

Representative Hamner discussed grant funding from the state.

Representative Saine distributed and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

15HouseLocal0121AttachB.pdf

The committee members discussed the amendment.

Amendment L.001 was withdrawn.

02:10 PM

Representatives Hamner and Buck provided closing comments on the bill.

The committee members discussed the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1017
TIME:	02:13:24 PM
MOVED:	Lebsock
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1017 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:	Singer
		VOTE
	Arndt	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Keyser	Yes
	Klingenschmitt	No
	Navarro	Yes
	Ransom	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Saine	No
	Singer	Yes
	Lebsock	Yes
	Fields	Yes

FINAL YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS