§ 37-1305 — Emergencies; prohibiting fireworks; liabilities and expenses; fire suppression revolving fund

A. On request of the state forester, the governor may authorize the state forester to incur liabilities for suppressing wildland fires and responding to other unplanned all-risk activities from unrestricted monies in the state general fund whether or not the legislature is in session.

B. The state forester has the authority to prohibit the use of fireworks during times of high fire potential in the unincorporated areas of the state.

C. The state forester or the state forester's designee shall review all liabilities incurred and expenditures made under this section and shall report the expenditures to the department of administration for audit according to department of administration rules. The state forester shall transmit a copy of the report to the state emergency council.

D. Liabilities incurred under this section are subject to the following limitations:

1. Wildland fire suppression or other unplanned all-risk emergency liabilities shall not exceed three million dollars of state general fund monies pursuant to subsection A of this section in a fiscal year for costs associated with suppressing wildland fires, supporting other unplanned all-risk activities such as fire, flood, earthquake, wind and hazardous material responses and preparing for periods of extreme fire danger and pre-position equipment and other fire suppression resources to provide for enhanced initial attack on wildland fires. The state forester shall not incur nonreimbursable liabilities for support of nonfire all-risk activities. The governor shall determine when periods of extreme fire danger exist and must approve any expenditure for pre-positioning activities.

2. If the funding authorization in paragraph 1 of this subsection is exhausted, or if the nonreimbursable liabilities incurred exceed the cash balance of the fire suppression revolving fund, the state forester shall not incur additional liabilities without the consent of a majority of the state emergency council as authorized by section 35-192.

E. The state forester shall process and pay claims for reimbursement for wildland fire suppression services, including claims for personnel hours, used supplies and reasonable and negotiated costs of damage to equipment that exceeds normal wear and tear, as follows:

1. Except as provided by paragraph 2 of this subsection, within thirty days after receiving a complete and correct claim for wildland fire suppression services, the state forester shall pay the claim from available monies that have not been committed to the payment of other wildfire expenses.

2. Within thirty days after receiving a complete and correct claim for wildland fire suppression services on federal lands, the state forester shall complete the processing of the claim and forward the claim to the appropriate federal agency.

3. For any valid claim other than for federal reimbursement, if there is insufficient funding in the fire suppression revolving fund, the holder of the unpaid claim shall be issued a certificate pursuant to section 35-189.

4. For any valid claim for federal reimbursement, the state forester shall certify the claim to the state treasurer who shall pay the claim, including claims for personnel hours, used supplies and reasonable and negotiated costs of damage to equipment that exceeds normal wear and tear, from monies appropriated from the budget stabilization fund pursuant to section 35-144, subsection A, paragraph 3. The state forester shall reimburse the state treasurer within forty-five days after payment of the claim by a federal agency and the state treasurer shall deposit those monies in the budget stabilization fund established by section 35-144.

F. Monies received for suppressing wildland fires, pre-positioning equipment and firefighting resources and other unplanned all-risk activities may be used for the purposes of section 37-1303 and this section.

G. The state forester shall adopt rules for administering the wildland fire suppression monies authorized under this section, subject to approval of the governor.

H. The state forester may require reimbursement from cities and other political subdivisions of this state and state and federal agencies for costs incurred in the suppression of wildland fires, pre-suppression or unplanned all-risk activities. Reimbursement shall be based on the terms and conditions in cooperative agreements, land ownership or negligence. The state forester may require reimbursement from individuals or businesses only for costs incurred in the suppression of wildland fires or unplanned all-risk activities caused by their negligence or criminal acts.

I. The fire suppression revolving fund is established consisting of civil penalties collected pursuant to section 36-1610 and monies received by the state forester for wildland fire suppression and pre-positioning equipment and resources and for payment for activities related to combating wildland fires and supporting other unplanned all-risk activities such as fire, flood, earthquake, wind and hazardous material responses. The state forester shall not incur nonreimbursable liabilities for support of nonfire all-risk activities. The state forester shall administer the fund, and all monies received for these activities shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the fund. Monies in the fire suppression revolving fund are continuously appropriated to the state forester, except that if the unobligated balance of the fund exceeds two million dollars at the end of any calendar year, the excess shall be transferred to the state general fund. Monies in the fire suppression revolving fund are otherwise exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.