202305A32CAC5F928725831A00734001 Hearing Summary

Representative McLachlan read comments from Ouray County Commissioner Ben Tisdel [Attachment F].

Vanessa Reilly and Julia Jackson, Legislative Council Staff, provided an overview of the bill request process.



Senator Coram presented Bill 1 [Attachment G], concerning development of a system to patrol the airspace of wildland fires.



Committee members discussed the bill.  Melissa Lineberger, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, responded to committee member questions about the bill.

Conrad Imel, Office of Legislative Legal Services, offered further clarifications about the bill request process. Senators Coram and Fields agreed to start the bill in the Senate and serve as co-prime sponsors of the bill, with Representative McLachlan as the House sponsor. Senators Cooke and Marble asked to be added as cosponsors. The committee granted the drafter permission to make technical changes to the bill draft.

Representative McLachlan presented Bill 2 [Attachment H], concerning measures to mitigate the effects of wildfires within wildland-urban interface areas, and, in connection therewith, authorizing cooperative agreements between fire protection providers and homeowners' associations to promote wildfire preventio nand mitigation and creating a state income tax credit to reimburse homeowners for specified expenses incurred in satisfying wildfire prevention and mitigation guidelines.

Representative McLachlan offered Amendment #1 [Attachment I], a strike-below amendment.  Committee members discussed the bill and the amendment, including suggesting a change to the amendment.

Committee discussion continued on Amendment #1 and its possible TABOR implications.

Committee discussion ensued on the bill as amended.

Representatives McLachlan and Carver agreed to be co-prime sponsors of the bill and start it in the House, with Senator Fields as the Senate sponsor.

Bob Lackner, Office of Legislative Legal Services, requested permission to work with sponsors to prepare the adopted amendments, which the committee granted.

Representative Carver presented Bill 3, concerning the establishment of the Colorado fire commission [Attachment J].

Representative Carver discussed Amendment #1 [Attachment K] to Bill 3. Sheriff Smith returned to the table to respond to committee member questions. Committee discussion continued.

Mike Morgan, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, came to the table to discuss Bill 3. He explained the motivation for the bill and the various stakeholders that should be involved in the commission. Mr. Lester returned to the table to discuss the role of the commission and its interaction with the Colorado State Forest Service. Committee discussion continued.

Representative Carver and Senator Fields agreed to sponsor the bill and start the bill in the House.  The committee granted permission to the drafter to make technical changes to the bill draft.

Senator Fields presented Bill 4, concerning the power of a county to restrict the use of fireworks during the period between May 31 and July 5 of any year [Attachment L].

Senator Fields and Representatives Gray and Hooton agreed to sponsor the bill and start it in the Senate. The committee granted the drafter permission to make technical changes to the draft.