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:
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, for the 2025-26 state fiscal year
Page 4, Line 13through the 2027-28 state fiscal year, the service may create
Page 4, Line 14outreach programs and initiatives as described in subsection (4)
Page 4, Line 15of this section that are designed to engage youth and young
Page 4, Line 16adults in career exploration and to provide opportunities in the
Page 4, Line 17areas of forestry, wildland fire, and natural resources that
Page 4, Line 18are targeted to counties within Colorado, specifically five
Page 4, Line 19front range counties bordering the mountains and five mountain region counties.
Page 4, Line 20(4) The outreach programs and initiatives may include:
Page 4, Line 21(a) Increasing awareness and interest in natural
Page 4, Line 22resources in youth ranging from eight to eighteen years of age
Page 4, Line 23through 4-H programming in forestry and natural resources,
Page 4, Line 24including wildland fire, and in other community science
Page 5, Line 1opportunities; adapting and scaling 4-H curricula for use; and
Page 5, Line 2offering scholarships for 4-H senior youth to earn college credit for natural-resource-related projects;
Page 5, Line 3(b) Increasing workforce skills and career awareness
Page 5, Line 4outreach, including increasing partnerships with the forest
Page 5, Line 5health industry, local school districts, community colleges,
Page 5, Line 6the Colorado state forest service, the division of fire
Page 5, Line 7prevention and control in the department of public safety,
Page 5, Line 8conservation districts, and other public and private entities to
Page 5, Line 9facilitate career and workforce readiness and workforce entry;
Page 5, Line 10(c) Outreach to increase awareness of and options to
Page 5, Line 11obtain two-year or four-year forestry or natural resources certificates or degrees;
Page 5, Line 12(d) Increasing industry partnerships and scholarships for
Page 5, Line 13certifications, such as wildland fire, chain saw, and other
Page 5, Line 14certifications, to reduce financial barriers to obtaining workforce skills;
Page 5, Line 15(e) Paid natural resources summer internships for high
Page 5, Line 16school students with an emphasis on forestry and with the potential for high school credit for completing the internship;
Page 5, Line 17(f) Paid internships, including increases in existing
Page 5, Line 18internship programs offered by the service and the Colorado
Page 5, Line 19state forest service, in the fields of forestry and natural
Page 5, Line 20resources, with mentoring support from the service, partnering
Page 5, Line 21colleges within Colorado state university, the Colorado state
Page 5, Line 22forest service, and other government and industry partners,
Page 6, Line 1such as the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety; and
Page 6, Line 2(g) Other outreach programs and initiatives as determined by the service.
Page 6, Line 3(5) In designing and implementing outreach programs and
Page 6, Line 4initiatives pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the service
Page 6, Line 5and other government and industry partners shall minimize
Page 6, Line 6barriers to and promote opportunities for natural resources careers for underrepresented communities.
Page 6, Line 7(6) The service may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants,
Page 6, Line 8or in-kind donations to support the outreach programs and
Page 6, Line 9initiatives created or implemented pursuant to this section and
Page 6, Line 10may leverage other state or federal money available for the purposes described in this section.
Page 6, Line 11(7) With respect to the outreach programs and initiatives
Page 6, Line 12created or expanded pursuant to this section, Colorado state
Page 6, Line 13university's indirect administrative costs for off-campus
Page 6, Line 14programs, if any, must not exceed ten percent of the costs
Page 6, Line 15directly attributed to and appropriated for the outreach programs and initiatives.
Page 6, Line 16(8) (a) On or before October 1, 2026, on or before October
Page 6, Line 171, 2027, and on or before October 1, 2028, the service shall
Page 6, Line 18submit an annual written report to the department of natural
Page 6, Line 19resources and to the house of representatives agriculture,
Page 6, Line 20water, and natural resources committee and the senate
Page 6, Line 21agriculture and natural resources committee, or their
Page 6, Line 22successor committees, concerning outreach programs and initiatives created pursuant to this section.
Page 7, Line 1(b) The report must include, as applicable:
Page 7, Line 2(I) An evaluation of each outreach program or initiative,
Page 7, Line 3including the implementation and outcomes of the program or
Page 7, Line 4initiative and the impact of the program or initiative on the goals described in subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section;
Page 7, Line 5(II) The amount and sources of funding for each outreach program or initiative;
Page 7, Line 6(III) Whether each outreach program or initiative should
Page 7, Line 7be continued or whether a more effective program or initiative is recommended; and
Page 7, Line 8(IV) Any other information relating to the
Page 7, Line 9implementation or efficacy of each outreach program or initiative.
Page 7, Line 10(c) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the
Page 7, Line 11reporting required pursuant to this subsection (8) continues for the duration of the outreach programs and initiatives.
Page 7, Line 12SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1231,
Page 7, Line 13amend (2)(a)(I)(A); and add (2)(a)(I)(C), (2)(a)(I)(D), and (5.5) as follows:
Page 7, Line 1424-33.5-1231. Local firefighter safety and disease prevention
Page 7, Line 15fund - creation - grants - rules - report - repeal. (2) (a) The division shall use the money in the fund to:
Page 7, Line 16(I) Award need-based grants to governing bodies and volunteer fire departments to provide funding or reimbursement for:
Page 7, Line 17(A) Purchasing equipment or replacing damaged or obsolete
Page 7, Line 18equipment, including the costs of disposal of damaged and obsolete equipment;
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 assembly, the division shall:
Page 8, Line 10(a) Create a train-the-trainer program to leverage
Page 8, Line 11existing training resources within the fire service to ensure that
Page 8, Line 12all instructors providing grant-funded certification classes
Page 8, Line 13pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(I)(C) of this section use a
Page 8, Line 14curriculum that teaches to the applicable National Fire
Page 8, Line 15Protection Association or National Wildfire Coordinating
Page 8, Line 16Group standards. The division shall share all curriculum and
Page 8, Line 17training best practices developed as part of the
Page 8, Line 18train-the-trainer program across the fire service in an effort to standardize training, as appropriate.
Page 8, Line 19(b) Develop a statewide outreach campaign to inspire the next generation of firefighters, including:
Page 8, Line 20(I) Creating best-practices documents for marketing the
Page 8, Line 21fire 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.