First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0183.01 Brita Darling x2241
HOUSE BILL 25-1078
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING WORKFORCE DEVELO PMENT IN NATURAL RESOURCES ,101
AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , SUPPORTING THE COLORADO102
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT103
AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN PROVIDING CAREER AWARENESS ,104
EDUCATION, AND INTERNSHIPS IN FOREST HEALTH TO YOUTH105
AND YOUNG ADULTS ; AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF106
PUBLIC SAFETY TO AWARD GRANTS FOR BASIC FIREFIGHTING107
CERTIFICATIONS AND FOR IN STRUCTOR TRAINING AND TO108
DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO TRAIN INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH109
FIREFIGHTING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS ; AND AUTHORIZING THE110
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO DEVELOP AN OUTREACH111
PROGRAM TO PROMOTE FIRE SERVICE CAREERS .112
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Boesenecker and Velasco, Mauro
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Marchman and Cutter,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. 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.
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:
! Provide need-based grants to fire service governing bodies
and volunteer fire departments for the cost of certain
HB25-1078
-2- 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.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-31-708 as2
follows:3
23-31-708. Forest health youth and young adult outreach and4
education initiative - legislative declaration - definition - reporting.5
(1) T
HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT :6
(a) T
HE SERVICE SERVES ALL OF COLORADO'S SIXTY-FOUR7
COUNTIES BY DISSEMINATING RESEARCH -BASED EDUCATION AND8
INFORMATION ACROSS COLORADO FOR A WIDE NUMBER OF TOPICS AND9
PROVIDING NONCREDIT PROGRAMMING FOR AUDIENCES RANGING FROM10
YOUTH TO OLDER ADULTS;11
(b) T
HE COLORADO FOREST HEALTH COUNCIL , CREATED IN12
SECTION 23-31-316, IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO REACH YOUTH AND YOUNG13
ADULT AUDIENCES WITH EDUCATION AND CAREER SKILLS AND TO PROVIDE14
WORKFORCE EXPOSURE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH AND YOUNG15
ADULTS; AND16
(c) D
UE TO ITS MISSION, EXPERTISE, AND COOPERATION WITH17
HB25-1078-3- LOCAL GOVERNMENTS , SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, THE1
DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF2
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS COLORADO, AS WELL3
AS ACROSS THE NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD , THE SERVICE HAS THE4
ABILITY TO GROW YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASE CAREER5
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREAS OF FORESTRY , WILDLAND FIRE, AND6
NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND7
INITIATIVES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.8
(2) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE9
REQUIRES, "4-H" MEANS A COMMUNITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS10
A
MERICA LEARNING LEADERSHIP , CITIZENSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS11
SUPPORTED BY NONPROFIT PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE 4-H PROJECTS AND12
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.13
(3) A
S PART OF ITS MISSION, FOR THE 2025-26 STATE FISCAL YEAR14
THROUGH THE 2027-28 STATE FISCAL YEAR, THE SERVICE MAY CREATE15
OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4)16
OF THIS SECTION THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND YOUNG17
ADULTS IN CAREER EXPLORATION AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE18
AREAS OF FORESTRY, WILDLAND FIRE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES THAT19
ARE TARGETED TO COUNTIES WITHIN COLORADO, SPECIFICALLY FIVE20
FRONT RANGE COUNTIES BORDERING THE M OUNTAINS AND FIVE MOUNTAIN21
REGION COUNTIES.22
(4) T
HE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES MAY INCLUDE :23
(a) I
NCREASING AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN NATURAL24
RESOURCES IN YOUTH RANGING FROM EIGHT TO EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE25
THROUGH 4-H PROGRAMMING IN FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES ,26
INCLUDING WILDLAND FIRE , AND IN OTHER COMMUNITY SCIENCE27
HB25-1078
-4- OPPORTUNITIES; ADAPTING AND SCALING 4-H CURRICULA FOR USE; AND1
OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 4-H SENIOR YOUTH TO EARN COLLEGE2
CREDIT FOR NATURAL-RESOURCE-RELATED PROJECTS;3
(b) I
NCREASING WORKFORCE SKILLS AND CAREER AWARENESS4
OUTREACH, INCLUDING INCREASING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FOREST5
HEALTH INDUSTRY, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES ,6
THE COLORADO STATE FOREST SERVICE , THE DIVISION OF FIRE7
PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ,8
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO9
FACILITATE CAREER AND WORKFORCE READINESS AND WORKFORCE10
ENTRY;11
(c) O
UTREACH TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND OPTIONS TO12
OBTAIN TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR FORESTRY OR NATURAL RESOURCES13
CERTIFICATES OR DEGREES;14
(d) I
NCREASING INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR15
CERTIFICATIONS, SUCH AS WILDLAND FIRE , CHAIN SAW, AND OTHER16
CERTIFICATIONS, TO REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO OBTAINING17
WORKFORCE SKILLS;18
(e) P
AID NATURAL RESOURCES SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH19
SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FORESTRY AND WITH THE20
POTENTIAL FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT FOR COMPLETING THE INTERNSHIP ;21
(f) P
AID INTERNSHIPS, INCLUDING INCREASES IN EXISTING22
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE SERVICE AND THE COLORADO23
STATE FOREST SERVICE, IN THE FIELDS OF FORESTRY AND NATURAL24
RESOURCES, WITH MENTORING SUPPORT FROM THE SERVICE , PARTNERING25
COLLEGES WITHIN COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE COLORADO STATE26
FOREST SERVICE, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS ,27
HB25-1078
-5- SUCH AS THE DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE1
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ; AND2
(g) O
THER OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AS3
DETERMINED BY THE SERVICE.4
(5) I
N DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND5
INITIATIVES PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (4) OF THIS SECTION, THE SERVICE6
AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS SHALL MINIMIZE7
BARRIERS TO AND PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATURAL RESOURCES8
CAREERS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES .9
(6) T
HE SERVICE MAY SEEK, ACCEPT, AND EXPEND GIFTS, GRANTS,10
OR IN-KIND DONATIONS TO SUPPORT THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND11
INITIATIVES CREATED OR IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND12
MAY LEVERAGE OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL MONEY AVAILABLE FOR THE13
PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.14
(7) W
ITH RESPECT TO THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES15
CREATED OR EXPANDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION , COLORADO STATE16
UNIVERSITY'S INDIRECT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR OFF -CAMPUS17
PROGRAMS, IF ANY, MUST NOT EXCEED TEN PERCENT OF THE COSTS18
DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO AND APPROPRIATED FOR THE OUTREACH19
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.20
(8) (a) O
N OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026, ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER21
1,
2027, AND ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2028, THE SERVICE SHALL22
SUBMIT AN ANNUAL WRITTEN REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL23
RESOURCES AND TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AGRICULTURE ,24
WATER, AND NATURAL RESOURCE S COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE25
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE , OR THEIR26
SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES , CONCERNING OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND27
HB25-1078
-6- INITIATIVES CREATED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION .1
(b) T
HE REPORT MUST INCLUDE, AS APPLICABLE:2
(I) A
N EVALUATION OF EACH OUTREACH PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE ,3
INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM OR4
INITIATIVE AND THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE ON THE5
GOALS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTIONS (3), (4), AND (5) OF THIS SECTION;6
(II) T
HE AMOUNT AND SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR EACH OUTREACH7
PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE;8
(III) W
HETHER EACH OUTREACH PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE SHOULD9
BE CONTINUED OR WHETHER A MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE10
IS RECOMMENDED; AND11
(IV) A
NY OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE12
IMPLEMENTATION OR EFFICACY OF EACH OUTREACH PROGRAM OR13
INITIATIVE.14
(c) N
OTWITHSTANDING SECTION 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), THE15
REPORTING REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (8) CONTINUES FOR16
THE DURATION OF THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES .17
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1231,18
amend (2)(a)(I)(A); and add (2)(a)(I)(C), (2)(a)(I)(D), and (5.5) as19
follows:20
24-33.5-1231. Local firefighter safety and disease prevention21
fund - creation - grants - rules - report - repeal. (2) (a) The division22
shall use the money in the fund to:23
(I) Award need-based grants to governing bodies and volunteer24
fire departments to provide funding or reimbursement for:25
(A) Purchasing equipment or replacing damaged or obsolete26
equipment, including the costs of disposal of damaged and obsolete27
HB25-1078
-7- equipment; and1
(C) F
IREFIGHTER CERTIFICATION COURSES , INCLUDING, AS2
DETERMINED BY THE DIVISION , THE COST OF TEXTBOOKS , COURSE3
MATERIALS, INSTRUCTORS, AND WRITTEN TESTING FOR BASIC FIREFIGHTER,4
FIREFIGHTER I, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AWARENESS AND OPERATIONS ,5
AND BASIC WILDLAND FIRE TRAINING COURSES , TO ENSURE THAT ALL6
FIREFIGHTERS IN COLORADO HAVE ACCESS TO BASIC FIREFIGHTER7
TRAINING; AND8
(D) F
IRE INSTRUCTOR I CERTIFICATION FOR INDIVIDUALS9
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE TRAIN -THE-TRAINER PROGRAM10
CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (5.5)(a) OF THIS SECTION; AND11
(5.5) S
UBJECT TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS BY THE GENERAL12
ASSEMBLY, THE DIVISION SHALL:13
(a) C
REATE A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM TO LEVERAGE14
EXISTING TRAINING RESOURCES WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT15
ALL INSTRUCTORS PROVIDING GRANT -FUNDED CERTIFICATION CLASSES16
PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2)(a)(I)(C) OF THIS SECTION USE A17
CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES TO THE APPLICABLE NATIONAL FIRE18
P
ROTECTION ASSOCIATION OR NATIONAL WILDFIRE COORDINATING19
G
ROUP STANDARDS. THE DIVISION SHALL SHARE ALL CURRICULUM AND20
TRAINING BEST PRACTICES DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE21
TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM ACROSS THE FIRE SERVICE IN AN EFFORT TO22
STANDARDIZE TRAINING, AS APPROPRIATE.23
(b) D
EVELOP A STATEWIDE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO INSPIRE THE24
NEXT GENERATION OF FIREFIGHTERS , INCLUDING:25
(I) C
REATING BEST-PRACTICES DOCUMENTS FOR MARKETING THE26
FIRE SERVICE AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ;27
HB25-1078
-8- (II) CREATING AND MAINTAINING AN ONLINE PORTAL FOR1
INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN THE FIRE SERVICE AS EITHER A2
CAREER OR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER , INCLUDING LINKS TO RELEVANT3
RESOURCES;4
(III) D
EVELOPING OUTREACH TOOLS TARGETED TO COLORADO5
YOUTH, PARTICULARLY YOUTH IN MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL ; AND6
(IV) D
EVELOPING MARKETING MATERIALS , INCLUDING:7
(A) D
IGITAL CONTENT HIGHLIGHTING CAREER PATHWAYS AND THE8
MANY ROLES WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE; AND9
(B) O
NLINE MARKETING STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE SOCIAL MEDIA10
OUTREACH.11
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,12
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate13
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for14
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state15
institutions.16
HB25-1078
-9-