NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/21/2016.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 16-1255
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Coram and Vigil, Arndt, Becker K., Brown,
      Duran, Fields, Ginal, Hamner, Lontine, Mitsch Bush, Priola, Rosenthal,
      Hullinghorst, Kagan, Pettersen, Windholz;
      also SENATOR(S) Baumgardner, Cooke, Crowder, Grantham, Jones,
      Lambert, Lundberg, Marble, Neville T., Roberts, Scheffel, Scott,
      Sonnenberg, Woods.
      
      
      Concerning additional methods to manage forests to secure
           favorable conditions for water supply.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-31-313, amend (6)
      (b) (I) and (9); and add (6) (a) (IV) as follows:
      
           23-31-313.  Healthy forests - vibrant communities - funds
      created - repeal. (6)  Community watershed restoration. (a)  In order to
      support communities and land managers in moving from risk reduction to
      long-term ecological restoration so that the underlying condition of
      Colorado's forests supports a variety of values, particularly public water
      supply and high-quality wildlife habitat, the forest service shall:
      
           (IV)  Conduct, or contract with one or more entities to
      conduct, one or more demonstration projects that utilize
      Colorado's good neighbor authority with the United States
      forest service to implement forest management treatments that
      improve forest health and resilience and supply forest products
      to Colorado businesses. In overseeing a project, the forest service
      shall:
      
           (A)  Use a collaborative approach;
      
           (B)  Leverage state resources to accomplish work across
      land ownership boundaries in order to treat more acres at
      reduced cost;
      
           (C)  Target a Colorado watershed to implement forest
      management treatments that will protect and enhance forest
      resilience, reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire,
      salvage insect- and disease-impacted trees, and provide forest
      products for businesses in Colorado; and
      
           (D)  Consider locations that have already been subject to
      review under the federal "National Environmental Policy Act of
      1969", 42 U.S.C. sec. 4321 et seq., including the Alpine plateau in
      Gunnison county and areas in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and
      Gunnison national forests that are subject to the spruce beetle
      epidemic and aspen decline draft environmental impact statement.
      
           (b) (I)  The forest service may use up to one million dollars annually
      until July 1, 2017, from the forest restoration program cash fund created in
      section 23-31-310 (8.5) for the purpose of complying with this subsection
      (6), of which at least two hundred thousand dollars shall be
      used to implement subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (a) of this
      subsection (6).
      
           (9)  Improved outreach and technical assistance. In order to
      ensure that the forest service has the capacity to deliver key funding and
      technical assistance that will be needed to guide and support
      implementation of wildfire preparedness, risk mitigation, watershed
      restoration, and economic development initiatives in a way that adds value
      to these efforts at the state level and across community boundaries, the
      forest service shall:
      
           (a)  Secure full-time temporary staff for developing, revising, and
      implementing CWPPs; developing and implementing risk mitigation and
      watershed restoration plans; strengthening the responsible use of prescribed
      fire; and supporting economically beneficial uses of woody biomass;
      
           (b)  Secure sufficient GIS capacity to assist with wildfire, insect, and
      disease risk assessments, as well as landscape-scale prioritization and
      planning; and emphasize making data available to and usable by local
      entities and other interested parties, including any electric, gas, and water
      utilities in the affected area; and
      
           (c)  Develop a web-based clearinghouse for technical assistance and
      funding resources relevant to the initiatives established in this section; and
      
           (d) (I)  In conjunction with the Colorado water
      conservation board, compile and summarize findings from existing
      studies to quantify and document the relationship between the
      state water plan adopted pursuant to section 37-60-106 (1) (u),
      C.R.S., and the importance of forest management in protecting
      and managing Colorado's water resources. The Colorado state
      forest service and the board shall engage additional expertise as
      they deem necessary. The compilation must include a summary of:
      
           (A)  The potential costs to and effects on watersheds,
      communities, water users, and infrastructure if appropriate
      forest management does not occur and a forested area burns;
      and
      
           (B)  The potential benefits of completing forest
      management treatments.
      
           (II)  The board shall submit a report containing the results
      of the compilation to the general assembly's committees with
      jurisdiction over natural resources by July 1, 2017.
      
           (III)  This paragraph (d) is repealed, effective September 1,
      2018.
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-31-316 as
      follows:
      
           23-31-316.  Forest health advisory council - repeal. (1)  There is
      hereby created within the Colorado state forest service the
      forest health advisory council to provide a collaborative forum
      to advise the state forester on a broad range of issues,
      opportunities, and threats with regard to Colorado's forests. The
      council consists of the following twenty-four members:
      
           (a)  Eight members appointed by the governor as follows:
      
           (I)  The state forester, who is the chair of the council;
      
           (II)  A senior-level executive branch policy advisor on
      water or natural resources;
      
           (III)  Two members who are employed by or associated with
      an environmental organization;
      
           (IV)  Two members who own or are employed by a wood
      products business;
      
           (V)  One member who is employed by or associated with a
      wildlife organization; and
      
           (VI)  One member who is a scientist or is employed in a
      scientific research position;
      
           (b)  Four members appointed by the speaker of the house of
      representatives as follows:
      
           (I)  Two county commissioners, one of whom must represent
      a county west of the continental divide and both of whom must be
      selected from a list provided by a statewide association of
      counties; and
      
           (II)  Two members who are employed by a public utility that
      owns or operates transmission facilities;
      
           (c)  Four members appointed by the minority leader of the
      house of representatives as follows:
      
           (I)  One member who owns a ranch;
      
           (II)  One member who is a fire chief;
      
           (III)  One member who is an enrolled member of a tribe that
      has a reservation within Colorado; and
      
           (IV)  One member who is employed by an insurance company;
      
           (d)  Four members appointed by the president of the senate
      as follows:
      
           (I)  Two members who are employed by a municipal drinking
      water supplier;
      
           (II)  One member who is employed by an irrigation water
      supplier; and
      
           (III)  One member who is employed by or associated with a
      conservation organization;
      
           (e)  Four members appointed by the minority leader of the
      senate as follows:
      
           (I)  One member who is employed by or associated with an
      economic development organization;
      
           (II)  One member who is employed by or associated with a
      sportsman organization; and
      
           (III)  Two members who are employed by or associated with
      recreation advocacy organizations, of which one organization
      must advocate for motorized recreation and one organization
      must advocate for nonmotorized recreation.
      
           (2)  The term of each council member is five years; except
      that:
      
           (a)  On and after September 1, 2021, the term of each council
      member is four years; and
      
           (b)  The initial terms of half of the members specified in
      paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of subsection (1) of this section are
      two years, as specified by the corresponding appointing authority.
      
           (3)  This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2021.
      Before its repeal, this section is scheduled for review in
      accordance with section 2-3-1203, C.R.S.
      
           SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 2-3-1203, add (3)
      (hh.5) (II) as follows:
      
           2-3-1203.  Sunset review of advisory committees. (3)  The
      following dates are the dates on which the statutory authorization for the
      designated advisory committee is scheduled for repeal:
      
           (hh.5)  September 1, 2021:
      
           (II)  The forest health advisory council created in section
      23-31-316, C.R.S.;
      
           SECTION 4.  Applicability. This act applies to conduct occurring
      on or after the effective date of this act.
      
           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.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Dickey Lee Hullinghorst                Bill L. Cadman
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                            Effie Ameen
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO