NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signature of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. SENATE BILL 09-021 BY SENATOR(S) Kopp, Gibbs, Penry, Schwartz, Bacon, Boyd, Brophy, Foster, Harvey, Heath, Hodge, Isgar, Keller, Kester, King K., Mitchell, Morse, Newell, Romer, Schultheis, Shaffer B., Spence, Tochtrop, White; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Scanlan and Levy, King, Lundberg, Apuan, Baumgardner, Gardner B., Gerou, Green, Kerr J., Massey, McFadyen, Middleton, Murray, Ryden, Schafer S., Summers, Todd, Vigil, Gardner C., Lambert. Concerning incentives for volunteer firefighters. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. 23-60-304, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSECTION to read: 23-60-304. Plans - development and implementation - credentialing - fees. (6) The board shall enter into a cooperative arrangement with the division of fire safety in the department of public safety to develop a system in which a qualified volunteer firefighter may receive a tuition voucher to attend courses at an institution in the state system of community and technical colleges in accordance with section 24-33.5-1216, C.R.S. SECTION 2. 23-71-122 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read: 23-71-122. Junior college board of trustees - specific powers - rules - definitions. (1) In addition to any other power granted by law to a board of trustees of a junior college district, each board shall have the power to: (w) Enter into a cooperative arrangement with the division of fire safety in the department of public safety to develop a system in which a qualified volunteer firefighter may receive a tuition voucher to attend courses at a local community college, including Aims community college and Colorado mountain college, in accordance with section 24-33.5-1216, C.R.S. SECTION 3. 24-33.5-1202, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSECTION to read: 24-33.5-1202. Definitions. As used in this part 12, unless the context otherwise requires: (8.5) "Qualified volunteer firefighter" means a volunteer firefighter as defined in section 31-30-1102 (9), C.R.S., in active service and maintaining the minimum amount of training in a fire department of thirty-six hours each year. SECTION 4. Part 12 of article 33.5 of title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF THE FOLLOWING NEW SECTIONS to read: 24-33.5-1215. Volunteer firefighter tuition voucher fund - created. There is hereby created in the state treasury the volunteer firefighter tuition voucher fund, which shall be administered by the division and shall consist of any gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources that the division is hereby required to seek and accept. All moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the division to be used for the purposes set forth in section 24-33.5-1216. All moneys in the fund at the end of each fiscal year shall be retained in the fund and shall not revert to the general fund or any other fund. 24-33.5-1216. Volunteer firefighters - tuition vouchers - community and technical colleges. (1) (a) The division shall collaborate with the state board for community colleges and occupational education created in section 23-60-104 (1) (b), C.R.S., and the board of the trustees for each local community college as specified in section 23-71-122, C.R.S., to develop a system to provide a tuition voucher for three credits per academic year to a qualified volunteer firefighter who is a full-time or part-time student at an institution in the state system of community and technical colleges or a local community college and who agrees to serve as a volunteer firefighter for no less than four years after completing his or her education at the institution. (b) For purposes of this section, "local community college" includes Aims community college and Colorado mountain college. (c) The division shall fund the tuition vouchers specified in paragraph (a) from the volunteer firefighter tuition voucher fund created in section 24-33.5-1215; except that, if the volunteer firefighter tuition voucher fund does not have sufficient moneys to fund the tuition vouchers, the division may use any existing appropriation. SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution, (August 5, 2009, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2009); except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor. ____________________________ ____________________________ Peter C. Groff Terrance D. Carroll PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Karen Goldman Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ Bill Ritter, Jr. GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO