2009 Forestry Legislation in Colorado
The state of Colorado values healthy, resilient forest landscapes and is willing to invest state funds in the stewardship of these resources.
CSFS and Colorado Forestry Legislation
During a July 10, 2009, legislative tour of Horsetooth Mountain Park in Larimer County, CSFS Fort Collins District Forester Boyd Lebeda (middle) shows evidence of mountain pine beetle in ponderosa to Reps. John Kefalas (left) and Randy Fischer (right).
In 2009, the Colorado General Assembly passed legislation addressing forest health, fuels mitigation and public safety. This unprecedented level of legislative activity is evidence of the importance and value of Colorado’s forests. The bills are aimed at creating legislation that promotes healthier, more diverse forests for the benefit of present and future generations.
2009 Forestry Legislation Summary
| Bill Number | Bill Name | Bill Summary |
|---|---|---|
| SB 001 | Community Wildfire Protection Plans | Requires the CSFS to establish guidelines and criteria for counties to consider in preparing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) to address wildfires in fire hazard areas within the unincorporated portion of a county. |
| SB 013 | Civil Immunity to Persons Engaged in Emergency Response Activities | Enacts the "Marc Mullenix Volunteer Firefighter Protection Act," which provides limited civil immunity for fire departments and other entities that donate surplus firefighting equipment for later use; immunity for volunteer firefighters, their commanders and the organizations that employ them; and immunity for incident management teams, in connection with fires and other emergencies. |
| SB 020 | Responsibility for Responding to Wild Land Fires | Creates a systematic, proactive approach to the management of wildland fire incidents in Colorado, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity. |
| SB 021 | Incentives for Volunteer Firefighters | Creates a fund in the Division of Fire Safety to provide tuition vouchers to qualified volunteer firefighters who are enrolled in full-time or part-time study, and who agree to serve as volunteer firefighters for four years after completing their education. |
| SB 105 | Removal of Statutory Limit on the amount that may be raised for the purpose of fighting fires | Removes the statutory limit on the amount that can be raised in a year by a special property tax levied by a Board of County Commissioners for the purpose of fighting specified types of fires in a county. |
| HB 1162 | Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Purpose of Mitigating Wildfires | Requires each local government to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) if that local government owns any land area located inside the territorial boundaries of a county, and contains at least 50-percent forest land, or land that constitutes a wildland area. The bill is effective on or before July 1, 2011. The purpose of the agreement is to mitigate forest land/wildland fires that affect the contiguous land areas of the local government and county. |
| HB 1199 | Colorado Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities Act of 2009 | Increases efforts to address wildfire risk, provides resources to the Colorado State Forest Service to augment its technical outreach capabilities, and provides loans and grants for market-based and forest treatment solutions to reduce wildfire risk. |
Summaries of 2011, 2010 and 2008 Colorado Forestry Legislation