A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning workforce development in natural resources.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Wildfire Matters Review Committee.Section 1 of the bill authorizes the Colorado cooperative extension service (extension) to expand and implement outreach programs and initiatives recommended by the Colorado forest health council for the purpose of increasing awareness of and interest in areas of forestry, wildland fire, and natural resources (forest health) in youth and young adults. The outreach programs and initiatives may be implemented for the 2025-26 state fiscal year through the 2027-28 state fiscal year and may include, in part:
- The expansion of 4-H programs and curricula in forest health;
- Partnerships with the forest health industry, local school districts, higher education institutions, conservation districts, the Colorado state forest service, the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety (division), and others to facilitate career and workforce readiness and entry into forest health careers;
- Outreach and support to youth and young adults relating to 2- and 4-year programs and certificates in forest health;
- Industry partnerships and scholarships for forest health certifications, such as wildland fire or chain saw certifications;
- Paid natural resources summer internships focused on forestry for high school students, including the potential to earn high school credit for completing the internship; and
- Paid internships in forest health careers offered by the extension, with mentoring of young adults by the extension, Colorado state university, the Colorado state forest service, and the division.
- Provide need-based grants to fire service governing bodies and volunteer fire departments for the cost of certain firefighter certification courses, course materials, textbooks, instructors, and written testing and to provide fire instructor I or equivalent certification for instructors who want to participate in a train-the-trainer program created by the division;
- Subject to appropriations by the general assembly, create a train-the-trainer program to ensure that all instructors providing grant-funded certification classes described in the bill teach a consistent curriculum; and
- Subject to appropriations by the general assembly, create a statewide outreach program to promote fire service careers, including marketing materials targeted to youth, an online portal to access career pathways and resources, and marketing materials that include social media.
The bill requires the extension to report annually to the department of natural resources and the house of representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources committee on the implementation and outcomes of the outreach programs and initiatives.
Section 2 authorizes the division to use money in the local firefighter safety and disease prevention fund to:
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 3, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 3, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 38-13-801, amend (1)(b); and add(2)(e), (2.6),and (2.7) as follows:
Page 3, Line 338-13-801. Unclaimed property trust fund - creation -
Page 3, Line 4payments - interest - appropriations - records - rules. (1) (b) Except
Page 3, Line 5as provided in subsections (2), (2.6), (2.7), (3), and (3.5) of this section,
Page 3, Line 6the principal of the trust fund shall not be expended except to pay claims
Page 3, Line 7made pursuant to this article 13. Money constituting the principal of the
Page 3, Line 8trust fund is not fiscal year spending of the state for purposes of section
Page 3, Line 920 of article X of the state constitution and is not subject to appropriation by the general assembly.
Page 3, Line 10(2) (e) If claims made pursuant to this article 13 exceed
Page 3, Line 11the balance in the unclaimed property trust fund, the state
Page 3, Line 12treasurer shall transfer from the general fund to the
Page 3, Line 13unclaimed property trust fund an amount needed to pay the
Page 3, Line 14claims and shall notify the joint budget committee of the
Page 3, Line 15general assembly of the transfer and the amount of the transfer from the general fund.
Page 3, Line 16(2.6) (a) (I) (A) On July 1, 2025, the state treasurer shall
Page 3, Line 17make an interest-free loan in the amount oftwenty-fivemillion
Page 3, Line 18dollars from the unclaimed property trust fund to the
Page 3, Line 19department of local affairs created in section 24-1-125. The
Page 3, Line 20department may initially use up to two percent of the loan for administrative costs.
Page 3, Line 21(B) On July 1, 2026, the state treasurer shall make an
Page 3, Line 22interest-free loan in the amount of twenty-five million dollars
Page 3, Line 23from the unclaimed property trust fund to the department of
Page 4, Line 1local affairs created in section 24-1-125. The department may
Page 4, Line 2initially use up to two percent of the loan for administration costs.
Page 4, Line 3(II) A loan made from the unclaimed property trust fund
Page 4, Line 4to a separate fund within a state department is an interfund
Page 4, Line 5loan according to generally accepted accounting principles,
Page 4, Line 6meaning the loan is not classified as revenue and is booked as an
Page 4, Line 7interfund receivable or payable. Therefore, the loan does not create a multiple-fiscal-year debt or financial obligation.
Page 4, Line 8(b) (I) The department of local affairs shall use theloans
Page 4, Line 9to create a new zero-interest revolving loan program to benefit
Page 4, Line 10fire departments, as defined in section 24-33.5-1202. Eligible uses
Page 4, Line 11of a zero-interest loan made to a fire department pursuant to this subsection (2.6) may include:
Page 4, Line 12(A) The purchase of rolling stock, such as fire trucks,
Page 4, Line 13brush trucks, and fast attack vehicles, and associated
Page 4, Line 14apparatus for those vehicles, by a fire department with an
Page 4, Line 15approved fleet replacement plan or with documented evidence
Page 4, Line 16of firefighting apparatus shortages in past responses to calls for service or emergencies;
Page 4, Line 17(B) To pay for capital improvements under an adopted
Page 4, Line 18capital facilities plan related to the renovation of existing facilities or the construction of new facilities;
Page 4, Line 19(C) The purchase of other facilities, infrastructure, or
Page 4, Line 20equipment necessary to equip Colorado's firefighter workforce
Page 4, Line 21to effectively respond to emergencies and ensure public safety;
Page 4, Line 22or
Page 5, Line 1(D) Temporary bridge loans to cover costs in excess of
Page 5, Line 2normal operating costs paid by a fire department due to its response to a local, state, or federal emergency.
Page 5, Line 3(II) Within ninety days after the receipt ofaloan by the
Page 5, Line 4department of local affairspursuant to subsection (2.6)(a)(I) of
Page 5, Line 5this section,and prior to the department making a loan under
Page 5, Line 6the loan program, the department shall consult with a
Page 5, Line 7statewide association representing Colorado fire chiefs, a
Page 5, Line 8statewide association representing professional firefighters,
Page 5, Line 9and the division of fire prevention and control in the
Page 5, Line 10department of public safety concerning the adoption of rulesor
Page 5, Line 11the establishment of policies or procedures relating to the loan program.
Page 5, Line 12(III) The department may charge an administrative fee of
Page 5, Line 13up to one-half of one percent on the principal amount of a loan made under the loan program.
Page 5, Line 14(IV) The department may use earnings from the
Page 5, Line 15investment of theloansmade to the department by the state
Page 5, Line 16treasurer pursuant to subsection (2.6)(a)(I) of this section for
Page 5, Line 17the department's reasonable expenses for administering the loan program.
Page 5, Line 18(V) Notwithstanding subsections (2.6)(b)(III) and
Page 5, Line 19(2.6)(b)(IV) of this section, to the extent feasible, the department
Page 5, Line 20shall manage the combined revenue generated through
Page 5, Line 21administrative fees charged pursuant to subsection (2.6)(b)(III)
Page 5, Line 22of this section and investment earnings pursuant to subsection
Page 5, Line 23(2.6)(b)(IV) of this section, so as not to exceed the department's administrative costs over the life of the loan program.
Page 6, Line 1(VI) A loan made by the department pursuant to
Page 6, Line 2subsection (2.6)(b)(I) of this section to a district, as defined in
Page 6, Line 3section 20 (2)(b) of article X of the state constitution, must
Page 6, Line 4either be approved by the voters of the district in accordance
Page 6, Line 5with section 20 (4)(b) of article X of the state constitution or be
Page 6, Line 6structured so that it is not a multiple-fiscal-year direct or
Page 6, Line 7indirect district debt or other financial obligation whatsoever
Page 6, Line 8that requires voter approval under section 20 (4)(b) of article X of the state constitution.
Page 6, Line 9(c) (I) The fire department revolving loan program fund,
Page 6, Line 10referred to in this subsection (2.6) as the "fund", is created in the state treasury.
Page 6, Line 11(II) The fund consists of:
Page 6, Line 12(A) Money loaned to the department of local affairs pursuant to subsection (2.6)(a)(I) of this section;
Page 6, Line 13(B) Loan administration fees received by the department
Page 6, Line 14of local affairs pursuant to subsection (2.6)(b)(III) of this section; and
Page 6, Line 15(C) Interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund.
Page 6, Line 16(III) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and
Page 6, Line 17income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
Page 6, Line 18(IV) The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to
Page 6, Line 19the department for the purposes described in this subsection (2.6)
Page 6, Line 20and to pay reasonable expenses relating to the administration of the loan program.
Page 7, Line 1(d) The department of local affairs shall payback the
Page 7, Line 2loans made to the department pursuant to subsection (2.6)(a)(I)
Page 7, Line 3of this sectionto the unclaimed property trust fund not later
Page 7, Line 4than July 1, 2065. The loan repayment is subject to future
Page 7, Line 5appropriation by the general assembly and shall not be deemed
Page 7, Line 6or construed as creating an indebtedness of the state within the
Page 7, Line 7meaning of any provision of the state constitution or state law concerning or limiting the creation of indebtedness by the state.
Page 7, Line 8(2.7) The state treasurer may invest money from the trust
Page 7, Line 9fund in the firefighter first homeownership program created in section 38-13-801.7.
Page 7, Line 10SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-75-402, add (5)(lll) as follows:
Page 7, Line 1124-75-402. Cash funds - limit on uncommitted reserves -
Page 7, Line 12reduction in the amount of fees - exclusions - definitions.
Page 7, Line 13(5) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the
Page 7, Line 14following cash funds are excluded from the limitations specified in this section:
Page 7, Line 15(lll) The fire department revolving loan program fund created in section 38-13-801 (2.6)(c).
Page 7, Line 16SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 38-13-801.7 as follows:
Page 7, Line 1738-13-801.7. Firefighter first homeownership program -
Page 7, Line 18creation - report - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) The
Page 7, Line 19general assembly finds and declares that housing developments
Page 7, Line 20that include preferences for firefighters in the state:
Page 8, Line 1(a) Promote a substantial, legitimate, and
Page 8, Line 2nondiscriminatory state interest that cannot be served by another practice with a less discriminatory effect;
Page 8, Line 3(b) Do not constitute a source of income discrimination under section 24-34-501 (4.5) or 24-34-502; and
Page 8, Line 4(c) Comply with the federal "Fair Housing Act", 42 U.S.C.
Page 8, Line 5sec. 3601 et seq., part 5 of article 34 of title 24, and other state and local laws, ordinances, and resolutions.
Page 8, Line 6(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 8, Line 7(a) "Fire department" has the meaning set forth in section 24-33.5-1202.
Page 8, Line 8(b) "Firefighter" means an officer or member of a fire department.
Page 8, Line 9(c) "Program" means the firefighter first homeownership program created in this section.
Page 8, Line 10(d) "Program manager" means the Colorado housing and
Page 8, Line 11finance authority created in section 29-4-704; except that, if the
Page 8, Line 12Colorado housing and finance authority elects at any time not
Page 8, Line 13to serve as program manager, the state treasurer shall select another program manager.
Page 8, Line 14(e) "Trust fund" means the unclaimed property trust fund created in section 38-13-801 (1)(a).
Page 8, Line 15(3) There is created the firefighter first homeownership
Page 8, Line 16program to support firefighter homeownership, address firefighter shortages, and support the retention of firefighters.
Page 8, Line 17(4) (a) The state treasurer may invest money from the
Page 9, Line 1trust fund into the program; except that, if the state treasurer
Page 9, Line 2invests money into the program, the total investment amount
Page 9, Line 3shall not exceed the sum of the investments made in accordance with subsection (4)(b) of this section.
Page 9, Line 4(b) If the program is implemented:
Page 9, Line 5(I) The state treasurer shall purchase from the program
Page 9, Line 6manager the mortgage products created through the program
Page 9, Line 7in tranches of reasonable amounts that are mutually agreed upon by the state treasurer and the program manager; and
Page 9, Line 8(II) The state treasurer may provide notice of any
Page 9, Line 9discontinuation in future investment the program manager has
Page 9, Line 10not already committed to the program, which notice must be provided at least six months prior to discontinuation.
Page 9, Line 11(c) The program manager shall establish guidelines and underwriting criteria for the program that:
Page 9, Line 12(I) Prioritize first-time homebuyers who use the home as a primary residence;
Page 9, Line 13(II) Provide shared equity down payment assistance to
Page 9, Line 14firefighters and aim to help firefighters achieve, to the extent possible, affordable home ownership;
Page 9, Line 15(III) Allow appreciation-sharing between the program and homeowner;
Page 9, Line 16(IV) If the program manager is the Colorado housing and
Page 9, Line 17finance authority, pair a program borrower with a first
Page 9, Line 18mortgage loan provided through the program manager's
Page 9, Line 19participating lender network that bears an interest rate that
Page 9, Line 20is at or below the prevailing mortgage rates; and
Page 10, Line 1(V) Serve home buyers across diverse geographic areas and housing markets.
Page 10, Line 2(d) The program manager is entitled to normal and
Page 10, Line 3customary fees for managing the program, including any
Page 10, Line 4carrying costs required to accommodate tranche payments, paid
Page 10, Line 5by the program or the program manager's products and services paired with the program.
Page 10, Line 6(5) The program manager shall annually publish and
Page 10, Line 7present to the state treasurer a report on program outcomes, including:
Page 10, Line 8(a) The number of program borrowers;
(b) The geographic distribution of program borrowers;
Page 10, Line 9(c) The area median income of program borrowers; and
Page 10, Line 10(d) The median purchase price, median loan amount, and
Page 10, Line 11average interest rate on first mortgages for program borrowers who benefit from the program.
Page 10, Line 12(6) Nothing in this section prevents leveraging other sources of state or local money for the program.
Page 10, Line 13SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 10, Line 14determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 10, Line 15preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 10, Line 16the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.