H.B. 146 Enrolled

COUNTY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH
STATE FOR FIRE PROTECTION
2004 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Craig W. Buttars

LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies a provision relating to cooperative agreements between a county and
the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands relating to fire protection.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
. requires a county, in order to be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement with
the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands relating to fire protection, to:
. adopt a wildland fire ordinance;
. require the county fire department or private provider to meet certain minimum
standards; and
. file a budget for fire suppression costs; and
. prevents counties that do not enter into a cooperative agreement with the division
from being eligible for financial assistance from the division.
Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
65A-8-6, as last amended by Chapter 319, Laws of Utah 1997

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

Section 1. Section 65A-8-6 is amended to read:
65A-8-6. Cooperative fire protection agreements with counties.
(1) The county legislative body of any county may enter into a cooperative agreement
with the division to receive financial and supervisory cooperation and assistance from the division.
(2) A county may not receive cooperation or assistance under Subsection (1) until a
cooperative agreement is executed by the county legislative body and the division.
(3) In order to be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement with the division, the
county shall:
(a) adopt a wildland fire ordinance based upon minimum standards established by the
division;
(b) require that the county fire department or equivalent private provider under contract
with the county meet minimum standards for wildland fire training, certification, and wildland fire
suppression equipment based upon nationally accepted standards as specified by the division; and
(c) file with the division a budget for fire suppression costs.
(4) A county that chooses not to enter into a cooperative agreement with the division may
not be eligible to receive financial assistance from the division.
[(3)] (5) The state forester may execute the agreements and may divide the state into fire
protection districts.
[(4)] (6) These districts shall provide efficient and economical fire protection within the
area defined.
[(5)] (7) The districts may comprise one or more counties, or portions of counties to be
specified in the cooperative agreements.
[(6)] (8) Under the terms of the cooperative agreements, the state forester shall file
annual budgets for operation of the cooperative districts with each participating county.
[(7)] (9) If the county approves a budget mutually acceptable to the county and the state
forester, and budgets an amount for actual fire suppression costs determined to be normal by the
state forester, the agreement shall commit the state to pay 1/2 the actual suppression costs that
exceed the stated normal costs.

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