NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 5/12/2015.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 15-205
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Roberts and Garcia, Aguilar, Carroll, Cooke, Crowder,
      Donovan, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr,
      Lambert, Merrifield, Newell, Scheffel, Todd, Cadman;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Keyser and Hamner, Conti, Esgar, Fields,
      Garnett, Ginal, Klingenschmitt, Kraft-Tharp, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee,
      Melton, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Nordberg, Pabon, Pettersen, Rankin,
      Rosenthal, Ryden, Salazar, Tate, Williams, Windholz, Young,
      Hullinghorst.
      
      
      Concerning the utilization of veterans' fire corps programs by
           the division of fire prevention and control in the
           department of public safety.
      
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited
      as the "Veterans Fire Corps Act".
      
           SECTION 2.  Legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly
      hereby finds, determines, and declares that:
      
           (a)  The threat of wildfire is a matter of serious concern to Colorado
      residents, especially to those living in the wildland-urban interface;
           (b)  In the last decade, the average number of acres burned annually
      by wildfires in Colorado has more than tripled, and Colorado has
      experienced some of its worst fires on record;
      
           (c)  Several of these fires have occurred outside of the traditional
      wildland fire season, during what is known as the "shoulder season" when
      state and federal hand firefighting crews are virtually non-existent;
      
           (d)  Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United
      States, approximately two million eight hundred thousand men and women
      have served in the United States armed forces;
      
           (e)  Colorado is home to more than four hundred sixteen thousand
      veterans, of which more than forty-five thousand are post-9/11 era veterans,
      and in spite of their military training and experience, a significant number
      of these veterans are unemployed or underemployed; and
      
           (f)  Veterans' fire corps programs provide training and on-the-job
      experience for post-9/11 era veterans interested in entering into careers and
      gaining experience in natural resource management and wildland fire
      control.
      
           (2)  Therefore, the general assembly:
      
           (a)  Finds that it is in the public interest to help returning veterans
      find employment;
      
           (b)  Determines that the purpose of this act is to help ensure the
      year-round availability of qualified hand crews, while providing training
      and employment opportunities for veterans of the post-9/11 era; and
      
           (c)  Declares that the division of fire prevention and control, to the
      extent practicable, should train, equip, and supervise hand crews employed
      by veterans' fire corps programs in Colorado for wildland fire mitigation
      and suppression.
      
           SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1202, add
      (8.2) and (14.3) as follows:
      
           24-33.5-1202.  Definitions. As used in this part 12, unless the
      context otherwise requires:
      
           (8.2)  "Post-9/11 era veteran" means a veteran who served
      on active duty during the military campaign period that started
      after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United
      States, and continuing until the date of the end of hostilities as
      determined by the government of the United States, and who has
      received an honorable discharge, a general discharge under
      honorable conditions, or a general discharge.
      
           (14.3)  "Veterans' fire corps program" means a program that
      is organized by a conservation corps or youth corps accredited
      by the Colorado youth corps association and that provides
      training and on-the-job experience for post-9/11 era veterans
      interested in entering into careers and gaining experience in
      natural resource management and wildland fire control.
      
           SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1227, add (1)
      (c) (III) as follows:
      
           24-33.5-1227.  Wildfire preparedness fund - creation - gifts,
      grants, and donations authorized - wildfire preparedness plan - report.
      (1) (c) (III)  The division may use moneys in the wildfire
      preparedness fund for the purpose of training, equipping, or
      supervising one or more hand crews employed by veterans' fire
      corps programs in Colorado for wildland fire mitigation and
      suppression.
      
           SECTION 5.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Bill L. Cadman                Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO