Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 56 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Vickers, E.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/20/2015

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• requires the director of the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to:
• coordinate the development of a state-wide wildland fire policy; and
• report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee on the director's recommendation for a state-wide wildland fire policy;
• describes the goals of a state-wide catastrophic wildfire reduction strategy; and
• states that the division may use funds to promote wildfire prevention, wildfire mitigation, and wildfire preparedness.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

WILDLAND FIRE POLICY
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
House Sponsor: 
Joel K. Briscoe
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies the responsibilities of the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ requires the director of the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to:
• coordinate the development of a state-wide wildland fire policy; and
• report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
Committee on the director's recommendation for a state-wide wildland fire
policy;
▸ describes the goals of a state-wide catastrophic wildfire reduction strategy; and
▸ states that the division may use funds to promote wildfire prevention, wildfire
mitigation, and wildfire preparedness.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
65A-8-103
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 342
ENACTS:
65A-8-103.5
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
65A-8-103
 is amended to read:
65A-8-103.
Forestry and fire control funds.
(1) The division shall use money available to it to meet the costs of:
(a) controlling forest, range, and watershed fires;
(b) controlling insect and disease epidemics;
(c) rehabilitating or reforesting nonfederal forest, range, and watershed lands; [
and
]
(d) promoting wildfire preparedness, wildfire mitigation, and wildfire prevention; and
[
(d)
] 
(e)
 carrying on the purposes of this chapter.
(2) All money available to the division to meet the costs of Subsections (1)(a) through
[
(d)
] 
(e)
 is nonlapsing and available to the division until expended.
(3) (a) The collection and disbursement of all money made available to the division
shall be in accordance with the rules of the Division of Finance.
(b) Money collected by the division from fees, rentals, sales, contributions,
reimbursements, and other such sources shall be deposited in the appropriate account.
Section 2. Section 
65A-8-103.5
 is enacted to read:
 65A-8-103.5.
Wildland fire policy -- Report.
(1) The director shall:
(a) coordinate the development of a comprehensive, state-wide wildland fire
prevention, preparedness, and suppression policy;
(b) coordinate with applicable state agencies to identify critical wildlife habitat areas as
the policy described in Subsection (1)(a) is developed; and
(c) report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee
by November 30, 2015, on the director's recommendation for the policy described in
Subsection (1)(a).
(2) The goals of the state-wide catastrophic wildfire reduction policy described in
Subsection (1)(a) shall be to:
(a) restore and maintain landscapes, ensuring landscapes across the state are resilient to
wildfire-related disturbances in accordance with fire management objectives;
(b) create fire-adapted communities, ensuring that human populations and
infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life or property;
(c) improve wildfire response, ensuring that all political subdivisions can participate in
making and implementing safe, effective, and efficient risk-based wildfire management
decisions; and
(d) reduce risks to wildlife, such as the greater sage grouse, which can be devastated by
wildfire.
(3) In developing the wildland fire policy described in Subsection (1)(a), the director
shall coordinate with representatives of counties, cities, and towns in the state, along with any
other stakeholders the director considers necessary and relevant, including the Catastrophic
Wildfire Reduction Strategy Statewide Steering Committee and six regional work groups.