A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning workforce development in natural resources,
Page 1, Line 102and, in connection therewith, supporting the Colorado
Page 1, Line 103cooperative extension service and other government
Page 1, Line 104and industry partners in providing career awareness,
Page 1, Line 105education, and internships in forest health to youth
Page 1, Line 106and young adults; authorizing the department of
Page 1, Line 107public safety to award grants for basic firefighting
Page 1, Line 108certifications and for instructor training and to
Page 1, Line 109develop a program to train instructors to teach
Page 1, Line 110firefighting certificate programs; and authorizing the
Page 1, Line 111department of public safety to develop an outreach
Page 1, Line 112program to promote fire service careers.
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, add 23-31-708 as follows:
Page 3, Line 323-31-708. Forest health youth and young adult outreach and
Page 3, Line 4education initiative - legislative declaration - definition - reporting.(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 3, Line 5(a) The service serves all of Colorado's sixty-four
Page 3, Line 6counties by disseminating research-based education and
Page 3, Line 7information across Colorado for a wide number of topics and
Page 3, Line 8providing noncredit programming for audiences ranging from youth to older adults;
Page 3, Line 9(b) The Colorado forest health council, created in
Page 3, Line 10section 23-31-316, identified the need to reach youth and young
Page 3, Line 11adult audiences with education and career skills and to provide
Page 3, Line 12workforce exposure and opportunities to youth and young adults; and
Page 3, Line 13(c) Due to its mission, expertise, and cooperation with
Page 4, Line 1local governments, school districts, community colleges, the
Page 4, Line 2division of fire prevention and control in the department of
Page 4, Line 3public safety, and other stakeholders across Colorado, as well
Page 4, Line 4as across the nation and around the world, the service has the
Page 4, Line 5ability to grow youth engagement and increase career
Page 4, Line 6opportunities in the areas of forestry, wildland fire, and
Page 4, Line 7natural resources through the outreach programs and initiatives described in this section.
Page 4, Line 8(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
Page 4, Line 9requires, "4-H" means a community of young people across
Page 4, Line 10America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills
Page 4, Line 11supported by nonprofit programs that include 4-H projects and other opportunities.
Page 4, Line 12(3) As part of its mission, and subject to available
Page 4, Line 13appropriations or gifts, grants, or in-kind donations for these
Page 4, Line 14purposes, for the 2025-26 state fiscal year through the 2027-28
Page 4, Line 15state fiscal year, the service may create outreach programs and
Page 4, Line 16initiatives as described in subsection (4) of this section that are
Page 4, Line 17designed to engage youth and young adults in career
Page 4, Line 18exploration and to provide opportunities in the areas of
Page 4, Line 19forestry, wildland fire, and natural resources that are
Page 4, Line 20targeted to counties within Colorado, specifically five front
Page 4, Line 21range counties bordering the mountains and five mountain region counties.
Page 4, Line 22(4) The outreach programs and initiatives may include:
Page 4, Line 23(a) Increasing awareness and interest in natural
Page 4, Line 24resources in youth ranging from eight to eighteen years of age
Page 5, Line 1through 4-H programming in forestry and natural resources,
Page 5, Line 2including wildland fire, and in other community science
Page 5, Line 3opportunities; adapting and scaling 4-H curricula for use; and
Page 5, Line 4offering scholarships for 4-H senior youth to earn college credit for natural-resource-related projects;
Page 5, Line 5(b) Increasing workforce skills and career awareness
Page 5, Line 6outreach, including increasing partnerships with the forest
Page 5, Line 7health industry, local school districts, community colleges,
Page 5, Line 8the Colorado state forest service, the division of fire
Page 5, Line 9prevention and control in the department of public safety,
Page 5, Line 10conservation districts, and other public and private entities to
Page 5, Line 11facilitate career and workforce readiness and workforce entry;
Page 5, Line 12(c) Outreach to increase awareness of and options to
Page 5, Line 13obtain two-year or four-year forestry or natural resources certificates or degrees;
Page 5, Line 14(d) Increasing industry partnerships and scholarships for
Page 5, Line 15certifications, such as wildland fire, chain saw, and other
Page 5, Line 16certifications, to reduce financial barriers to obtaining workforce skills;
Page 5, Line 17(e) Paid natural resources summer internships for high
Page 5, Line 18school students with an emphasis on forestry and with the potential for high school credit for completing the internship;
Page 5, Line 19(f) Paid internships, including increases in existing
Page 5, Line 20internship programs offered by the service and the Colorado
Page 5, Line 21state forest service, in the fields of forestry and natural
Page 5, Line 22resources, with mentoring support from the service, partnering
Page 6, Line 1colleges within Colorado state university, the Colorado state
Page 6, Line 2forest service, and other government and industry partners,
Page 6, Line 3such as the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety; and
Page 6, Line 4(g) Other outreach programs and initiatives as determined by the service.
Page 6, Line 5(5) In designing and implementing outreach programs and
Page 6, Line 6initiatives pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the service
Page 6, Line 7and other government and industry partners shall minimize
Page 6, Line 8barriers to and promote opportunities for natural resources careers for underrepresented communities.
Page 6, Line 9(6) The service may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants,
Page 6, Line 10or in-kind donations to support the outreach programs and
Page 6, Line 11initiatives created or implemented pursuant to this section and
Page 6, Line 12may leverage other state or federal money available for the purposes described in this section.
Page 6, Line 14(7) (a) On or before October 1, 2026, on or before October
Page 6, Line 151, 2027, and on or before October 1, 2028, if the service has
Page 6, Line 16implemented outreach programs and initiatives pursuant to
Page 6, Line 17subsection (4) of this section during the prior state fiscal year,
Page 6, Line 18the service shall submit an annual written report to the
Page 6, Line 19department of natural resources and to the house of
Page 6, Line 20representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources
Page 6, Line 21committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources
Page 6, Line 22committee, or their successor committees, concerning outreach
Page 6, Line 23programs and initiatives created pursuant to this section.
(b) The report must include, as applicable:
Page 7, Line 1(I) An evaluation of each outreach program or initiative,
Page 7, Line 2including the implementation and outcomes of the program or
Page 7, Line 3initiative and the impact of the program or initiative on the goals described in subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section;
Page 7, Line 4(II) The amount and sources of funding for each outreach program or initiative;
Page 7, Line 5(III) Whether each outreach program or initiative should
Page 7, Line 6be continued or whether a more effective program or initiative is recommended; and
Page 7, Line 7(IV) Any other information relating to the
Page 7, Line 8implementation or efficacy of each outreach program or initiative.
Page 7, Line 9(c) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the
Page 7, Line 10reporting required pursuant to this subsection (7) continues for the duration of the outreach programs and initiatives.
Page 7, Line 11SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1231,
Page 7, Line 12amend (2)(a)(I)(A); and add (2)(a)(I)(C), (2)(a)(I)(D), and (5.5) as follows:
Page 7, Line 1324-33.5-1231. Local firefighter safety and disease prevention
Page 7, Line 14fund - creation - grants - rules - report - repeal. (2) (a) The division shall use the money in the fund to:
Page 7, Line 15(I) Award need-based grants to governing bodies and volunteer fire departments to provide funding or reimbursement for:
Page 7, Line 16(A) Purchasing equipment or replacing damaged or obsolete
Page 7, Line 17equipment, including the costs of disposal of damaged and obsolete
Page 7, Line 18equipment;
andPage 8, Line 1(C) Firefighter certification courses, including, as
Page 8, Line 2determined by the division, the cost of textbooks, course
Page 8, Line 3materials, instructors, and written testing for basic firefighter,
Page 8, Line 4firefighter I, hazardous materials awareness and operations,
Page 8, Line 5and basic wildland fire training courses, to ensure that all
Page 8, Line 6firefighters in Colorado have access to basic firefighter training; and
Page 8, Line 7(D) Fire instructor I certification for individuals
Page 8, Line 8interested in participating in the train-the-trainer program created pursuant to subsection (5.5)(a) of this section; and
Page 8, Line 9(5.5) Subject to available appropriations by the general
Page 8, Line 10assembly, or to gifts, grants, or in-kind donations for the purposes described in this subsection (5.5), the division shall:
Page 8, Line 11(a) Create a train-the-trainer program to leverage
Page 8, Line 12existing training resources within the fire service to ensure that
Page 8, Line 13all instructors providing grant-funded certification classes
Page 8, Line 14pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(I)(C) of this section use a
Page 8, Line 15curriculum that teaches to the applicable National Fire
Page 8, Line 16Protection Association or National Wildfire Coordinating
Page 8, Line 17Group standards. The division shall share all curriculum and
Page 8, Line 18training best practices developed as part of the
Page 8, Line 19train-the-trainer program across the fire service in an effort to standardize training, as appropriate.
Page 8, Line 20(b) Develop a statewide outreach campaign to inspire the next generation of firefighters, including:
Page 8, Line 21(I) Creating best-practices documents for marketing the
Page 8, Line 22fire service and recruitment and retention;
Page 9, Line 1(II) Creating and maintaining an online portal for
Page 9, Line 2individuals interested in a career in the fire service as either a
Page 9, Line 3career or volunteer firefighter, including links to relevant resources;
Page 9, Line 4(III) Developing outreach tools targeted to Colorado youth, particularly youth in middle or high school; and
Page 9, Line 5(IV) Developing marketing materials, including:
Page 9, Line 6(A) Digital content highlighting career pathways and the many roles within the fire service; and
Page 9, Line 7(B) Online marketing strategies that include social media outreach.
Page 9, Line 8SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 9, Line 9determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 9, Line 10preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 9, Line 11the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.