§ 24-33.5-1238 — Fire investigation fund - created - rules

Colorado § 24-33.5-1238

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 24: Government
• Art.: Public Safety

Text

(1) The fire
investigation fund, referred to in this section as the fund, is hereby created in the
state treasury. The fund consists of any money that may be appropriated to the
fund by the general assembly, all private and public money received through gifts,
grants, or donations that are transmitted to the state treasurer and credited to the
fund, and money transferred to the fund pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.
The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and
investment of money in the fund to the fund.

(2) (a) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the division
may expend money from the fund to investigate the causes and origins of fires in
the state and to:

(I) Fund state costs associated with providing support to local fire
departments in investigating the cause and origin of fires;

(II) Reimburse fire investigators who are not employed by the division but are
acting under the direction and coordination of the division at an established rate for
assisting in fire cause and origin investigations outside of jurisdiction;

(III) Ensure fire origin and cause data is accurately collected, analyzed, and
disseminated; and

(IV) Utilize the data collected as set forth in this section to more effectively
prevent or mitigate future fires.

(b) The division shall prioritize the use of money from the fund for fire
investigations including but not limited to wildland, structural, vehicle, and other
fires, subject to the availability of additional resources and money for such use;
except that investigation of all wildland fires must be first prioritized for use of the
money expended from the fund.

(3) The director may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

(4) The general assembly shall annually appropriate sufficient funds, as
determined by the general assembly in the annual general appropriations act, from
the general fund to the fund for use by the division to defray the costs to the
division in implementing the provisions set forth in subsection (2) of this section.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (SB 23-013), ch. 173, p. 851, � 2, effective May 12.