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:
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 (2.6) 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(2.6) (a) (I) On July 1, 2025, the state treasurer shall make
Page 3, Line 11an interest-free loan in the amount of fifty million dollars from
Page 3, Line 12the unclaimed property trust fund to the department of local
Page 3, Line 13affairs created in section 24-1-125. The department may initially use up to two percent of the loan for administrative costs.
Page 3, Line 14(II) A loan made from the unclaimed property trust fund
Page 3, Line 15to a separate fund within a state department is an interfund
Page 3, Line 16loan according to generally accepted accounting principles,
Page 3, Line 17meaning the loan is not classified as revenue and is booked as an
Page 3, Line 18interfund receivable or payable. Therefore, the loan does not create a multiple-fiscal-year debt or financial obligation.
Page 3, Line 19(b) (I) The department of local affairs shall use the loan
Page 3, Line 20to create a new zero-interest revolving loan program to benefit
Page 3, Line 21fire departments, as defined in section 24-33.5-1202. Eligible uses
Page 3, Line 22of a zero-interest loan made to a fire department pursuant to
Page 3, Line 23this subsection (2.6) may include:
Page 4, Line 1(A) The purchase of rolling stock, such as fire trucks,
Page 4, Line 2brush trucks, and fast attack vehicles, and associated
Page 4, Line 3apparatus for those vehicles, by a fire department with an
Page 4, Line 4approved fleet replacement plan or with documented evidence
Page 4, Line 5of firefighting apparatus shortages in past responses to calls for service or emergencies;
Page 4, Line 6(B) To pay for capital improvements under an adopted
Page 4, Line 7capital facilities plan related to the renovation of existing facilities or the construction of new facilities;
Page 4, Line 8(C) The purchase of other facilities, infrastructure, or
Page 4, Line 9equipment necessary to equip Colorado's firefighter workforce
Page 4, Line 10to effectively respond to emergencies and ensure public safety; or
Page 4, Line 11(D) Temporary bridge loans to cover costs in excess of
Page 4, Line 12normal operating costs paid by a fire department due to its response to a local, state, or federal emergency.
Page 4, Line 13(II) Within ninety days after the receipt of the loan by the
Page 4, Line 14department of local affairs and prior to the department making
Page 4, Line 15a loan under the loan program, the department shall consult
Page 4, Line 16with a statewide association representing Colorado fire chiefs,
Page 4, Line 17a statewide association representing professional firefighters,
Page 4, Line 18and the division of fire prevention and control in the
Page 4, Line 19department of public safety concerning the adoption of rules
Page 4, Line 20and the establishment of policies or procedures relating to the loan program.
Page 4, Line 21(III) The department may charge an administrative fee of
Page 4, Line 22up to one-half of one percent on the principal amount of a loan made under the loan program.
Page 5, Line 1(IV) The department may use earnings from the
Page 5, Line 2investment of the loan made to the department by the state
Page 5, Line 3treasurer pursuant to subsection (2.6)(a)(I) of this section for
Page 5, Line 4the department's reasonable expenses for administering the loan program.
Page 5, Line 5(V) A loan made by the department pursuant to
Page 5, Line 6subsection (2.6)(b)(I) of this section to a district, as defined in
Page 5, Line 7section 20 (2)(b) of article X of the state constitution, must
Page 5, Line 8either be approved by the voters of the district in accordance
Page 5, Line 9with section 20 (4)(b) of article X of the state constitution or be
Page 5, Line 10structured so that it is not a multiple-fiscal-year direct or
Page 5, Line 11indirect district debt or other financial obligation whatsoever
Page 5, Line 12that requires voter approval under section 20 (4)(b) of article X of the state constitution.
Page 5, Line 13(c) (I) The fire department revolving loan program fund,
Page 5, Line 14referred to in this subsection (2.6) as the "fund", is created in the state treasury.
Page 5, Line 15(II) The fund consists of:
Page 5, Line 16(A) Money loaned to the department of local affairs pursuant to subsection (2.6)(a)(I) of this section;
Page 5, Line 17(B) Loan administration fees received by the department
Page 5, Line 18of local affairs pursuant to subsection (2.6)(b)(III) of this section; and
Page 5, Line 19(C) Interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund.
Page 5, Line 20(III) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and
Page 6, Line 1income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
Page 6, Line 2(IV) The money in the fund is continuously appropriated to
Page 6, Line 3the department for the purposes described in this subsection (2.6)
Page 6, Line 4and to pay reasonable expenses relating to the administration of the loan program.
Page 6, Line 5(d) The department of local affairs shall pay the loan
Page 6, Line 6back to the unclaimed property trust fund not later than July
Page 6, Line 71, 2065. The loan repayment is subject to future appropriation by
Page 6, Line 8the general assembly and shall not be deemed or construed as
Page 6, Line 9creating an indebtedness of the state within the meaning of any
Page 6, Line 10provision of the state constitution or state law concerning or limiting the creation of indebtedness by the state.
Page 6, Line 11(2.7) The state treasurer may invest money from the trust
Page 6, Line 12fund in the firefighter first homeownership program created in section 38-13-801.7.
Page 6, Line 13SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-75-402, add (5)(lll) as follows:
Page 6, Line 1424-75-402. Cash funds - limit on uncommitted reserves -
Page 6, Line 15reduction in the amount of fees - exclusions - definitions.
Page 6, Line 16(5) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the
Page 6, Line 17following cash funds are excluded from the limitations specified in this section:
Page 6, Line 18(lll) The fire department revolving loan program fund created in section 38-13-801 (2.6)(c).
Page 6, Line 19SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 38-13-801.7 as
Page 6, Line 20follows:
Page 7, Line 138-13-801.7. Firefighter first homeownership program -
Page 7, Line 2creation - report - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) The
Page 7, Line 3general assembly finds and declares that housing developments that include preferences for firefighters in the state:
Page 7, Line 4(a) Promote a substantial, legitimate, and
Page 7, Line 5nondiscriminatory state interest that cannot be served by another practice with a less discriminatory effect;
Page 7, Line 6(b) Do not constitute a source of income discrimination under section 24-34-501 (4.5) or 24-34-502; and
Page 7, Line 7(c) Comply with the federal "Fair Housing Act", 42 U.S.C.
Page 7, Line 8sec. 3601 et seq., part 5 of article 34 of title 24, and other state and local laws, ordinances, and resolutions.
Page 7, Line 9(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 7, Line 10(a) "Fire department" has the meaning set forth in section 24-33.5-1202.
Page 7, Line 11(b) "Firefighter" means an officer or member of a fire department.
Page 7, Line 12(c) "Program" means the firefighter first homeownership program created in this section.
Page 7, Line 13(d) "Program manager" means the Colorado housing and
Page 7, Line 14finance authority created in section 29-4-704; except that, if the
Page 7, Line 15Colorado housing and finance authority elects at any time not
Page 7, Line 16to serve as program manager, the state treasurer shall select another program manager.
Page 7, Line 17(e) "Trust fund" means the unclaimed property trust fund
Page 7, Line 18created in section 38-13-801 (1)(a).
Page 8, Line 1(3) There is created the firefighter first homeownership
Page 8, Line 2program to support firefighter homeownership, address firefighter shortages, and support the retention of firefighters.
Page 8, Line 3(4) (a) The state treasurer may invest money from the
Page 8, Line 4trust fund into the program; except that, if the state treasurer
Page 8, Line 5invests money into the program, the total investment amount
Page 8, Line 6shall not exceed the sum of the investments made in accordance with subsection (4)(b) of this section.
Page 8, Line 7(b) If the program is implemented:
Page 8, Line 8(I) The state treasurer shall purchase from the program
Page 8, Line 9manager the mortgage products created through the program
Page 8, Line 10in tranches of reasonable amounts that are mutually agreed upon by the state treasurer and the program manager; and
Page 8, Line 11(II) The state treasurer may provide notice of any
Page 8, Line 12discontinuation in future investment the program manager has
Page 8, Line 13not already committed to the program, which notice must be provided at least six months prior to discontinuation.
Page 8, Line 14(c) The program manager shall establish guidelines and underwriting criteria for the program that:
Page 8, Line 15(I) Prioritize first-time homebuyers who use the home as a primary residence;
Page 8, Line 16(II) Provide shared equity down payment assistance to
Page 8, Line 17firefighters and aim to help firefighters achieve, to the extent possible, affordable home ownership;
Page 8, Line 18(III) Allow appreciation-sharing between the program and homeowner;
Page 8, Line 19(IV) If the program manager is the Colorado housing and
Page 9, Line 1finance authority, pair a program borrower with a first
Page 9, Line 2mortgage loan provided through the program manager's
Page 9, Line 3participating lender network that bears an interest rate that is at or below the prevailing mortgage rates; and
Page 9, Line 4(V) Serve home buyers across diverse geographic areas and housing markets.
Page 9, Line 5(d) The program manager is entitled to normal and
Page 9, Line 6customary fees for managing the program, including any
Page 9, Line 7carrying costs required to accommodate tranche payments, paid
Page 9, Line 8by the program or the program manager's products and services paired with the program.
Page 9, Line 9(5) The program manager shall annually publish and
Page 9, Line 10present to the state treasurer a report on program outcomes, including:
Page 9, Line 11(a) The number of program borrowers;
(b) The geographic distribution of program borrowers;
Page 9, Line 12(c) The area median income of program borrowers; and
Page 9, Line 13(d) The median purchase price, median loan amount, and
Page 9, Line 14average interest rate on first mortgages for program borrowers who benefit from the program.
Page 9, Line 15(6) Nothing in this section prevents leveraging other sources of state or local money for the program.
Page 9, Line 16SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 9, Line 17determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 9, Line 18preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 9, Line 19the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
Page 9, Line 20institutions.