Wyoming Senate Bill SF0016

Wyoming 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/24
• Failed: 2/23/24

Caption

Military department emergency fire suppression account.

Impact

If enacted, SF0016 will create a dedicated funding mechanism for emergency fire suppression activities, which will allow for more agile responses to fire emergencies on military-managed lands. This legislative initiative includes an appropriation of $2,000,000 from the general fund, ensuring that finances are available specifically for this critical function. It thus establishes a continuous appropriation, which means funds will not revert to the general fund but remain available for future fiscal years, enhancing financial stability for firefighting efforts.

Summary

Senate File 0016 (SF0016) establishes a military department emergency fire suppression account aimed at managing costs associated with emergency fires on state lands administered by the military department. The bill empowers the adjutant general to authorize expenditures from this account for firefighting purposes when emergencies exceed available firefighting resources. Additionally, it mandates rulemaking to ensure effective implementation of these provisions, marking a strategic move to enhance the military department's capability in fire management.

Contention

Debates surrounding SF0016 may focus on the adequacy of funding and resources allocated for fire suppression efforts. Critics might argue that the funding should instead be utilized more broadly to improve overall fire prevention and management strategies across all state lands, not just those managed by the military department. Furthermore, stakeholders may express concerns about the effectiveness of current firefighting strategies and whether the newly created account will sufficiently address the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires.