Representative Carl R. Albrecht proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
WILDLAND FIRE PLANNING AND COST RECOVERY

2     
AMENDMENTS

3     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht

6     
Senate Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill enacts and modifies provisions relating to wildland fire planning and cost
11     recovery.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     grants the Public Service Commission rulemaking authority to enact rules
15     establishing procedures for the review and approval of a wildland fire protection
16     plan;
17          ▸     requires a qualified utility and an electric cooperative to prepare and submit for
18     approval a wildland fire protection plan;
19          ▸     specifies the information that is required to be included in a wildland fire protection
20     plan;
21          ▸     requires the Public Service Commission to review and approve a wildland fire
22     protection plan submitted by a qualified utility;
23          ▸     provides that a qualified utility may recover, through rates, the capital investments
24     and expenses incurred to implement a wildland fire protection plan;
25          ▸     requires a qualified utility to annually report certain capital investments and

26     expenses incurred for the implementation of a wildland fire protection plan to the Public
27     Service Commission;
28          ▸     requires a governing authority of an electric cooperative to review and approve a
29     wildland fire protection plan submitted by an electric cooperative;
30          ▸     provides that a qualified utility or an electric cooperative with an electrical
31     transmission fire protection plan are not considered to have negligently caused a
32     wildland fire under certain circumstances;
33          ▸     modifies the standard of care for a right of action for injuries to trees;
34          ▸     specifies the liability provisions that apply for damages arising from a wildland fire;
35     and
36          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
37     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
38          None
39     Other Special Clauses:
40          None
41     Utah Code Sections Affected:
42     AMENDS:
43          65A-3-4, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 361
44          78B-6-1002, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
45     ENACTS:
46          54-24-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
47          54-24-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
48          54-24-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
49          54-24-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
50          54-24-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
51          54-24-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
52     

53     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
54          Section 1. Section 54-24-101 is enacted to read:
55     
CHAPTER 24. WILDLAND FIRE PLANNING AND COST RECOVERY ACT

56     
Part 1. General Provisions


57          54-24-101. Title.
58          This chapter is known as the "Wildland Fire Planning and Cost Recovery Act."
59          Section 2. Section 54-24-102 is enacted to read:
60          54-24-102. Definitions.
61          As used in this chapter:
62          (1) "Electric cooperative" means an electrical corporation that is a:
63          (a) distribution electrical cooperative; or
64          (b) wholesale electrical cooperative.
65          (2) "Governing authority" means the same as that term is defined in Section 54-15-102.
66          (3) "Qualified utility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 54-17-801.
67          (4) "Wildland fire protection plan" means a plan submitted to the commission or
68     governing authority in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
69          Section 3. Section 54-24-103 is enacted to read:
70          54-24-103. Commission rulemaking authority.
71          In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
72     commission shall make rules to implement this chapter, including:
73          (1) rules establishing procedures for the review and approval of a wildland fire
74     protection plan;
75          (2) rules establishing the procedures for the review and approval of annual
76     expenditures for the implementation of a wildland fire protection plan; and
77          (3) any other rules that the commission determines are necessary to protect the public
78     interest and implement this chapter.
79          Section 4. Section 54-24-201 is enacted to read:
80     
Part 2. Wildland Fire Protection Plans

81          54-24-201. Wildland fire protection plan for a qualified utility.
82          (1) A qualified utility shall prepare a wildland fire protection plan in accordance with
83     the requirements of this chapter.
84          (2) A wildland fire protection plan under Subsection (1) shall include:
85          (a) a description of areas within the service territory of the qualified utility that may be
86     subject to a heightened risk of wildland fire;
87          (b) a description of the procedures, standards, and time frames that the qualified utility

88     will use to inspect and operate its infrastructure;
89          (c) a description of the procedures and standards that the qualified utility will use to
90     perform vegetation management;
91          (d) a description of proposed modifications or upgrades to facilities and preventative
92     programs that the qualified utility will implement to reduce the risk of its electric facilities
93     initiating a wildland fire;
94          (e) a description of procedures for de-energizing power lines and disabling reclosers to
95     mitigate potential wildland fires taking into consideration:
96          (i) the ability of the qualified utility to reasonably access the proposed power line to be
97     de-energized;
98          (ii) the balance of the risk of wildland fire with the need for continued supply of
99     electricity to a community; and
100          (iii) any potential impact to public safety, first responders, and health and
101     communication infrastructure;
102          (f) a description of the procedures the qualified utility intends to use to restore its
103     electrical system in the event of a wildland fire;
104          (g) a description of the costs for the implementation of the plan, including system
105     improvements and upgrades;
106          (h) a description of community outreach and public awareness efforts before and
107     during a wildland fire season; and
108          (i) a description of potential participation, if applicable, with state or local wildland fire
109     protection plans.
110          (3) (a) A qualified utility shall submit the wildland fire protection plan described in this
111     section to the commission:
112          (i) on or before June 1, 2020; and
113          (ii) on or before October 1 of every third year after calendar year 2020.
114          (b) The commission shall:
115          (i) review the plan submitted under Subsection (3)(a); and
116          (ii) consider input from:
117          (A) the State Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands created in Section 65A-1-4;
118          (B) any other appropriate federal, state, or local entity that chooses to provide input;

119     and
120          (C) other interested persons who choose to provide input.
121          (c) The commission shall approve a wildland fire protection plan submitted under
122     Subsection (3)(a) if the plan:
123          (i) is reasonable and in the public interest; and
124          (ii) appropriately balances the costs of implementing the plan with the risk of a
125     potential wildland fire.
126          Section 5. Section 54-24-202 is enacted to read:
127          54-24-202. Cost recovery for wildland fire protection plan implementation.
128          (1) A qualified utility shall recover in rates all prudently incurred investments and
129     expenditures, including the costs of capital, made to implement an approved wildland fire
130     protection plan.
131          (2) A qualified utility shall file an annual report to the commission identifying the
132     actual capital investments and expenses made in the prior calendar year and a forecast of the
133     capital investments and expenses for the present year to implement a wildland fire protection
134     plan approved by the commission under Section 54-24-201.
135          (3) The commission shall authorize the deferral and collection of the incremental
136     revenue requirement for the capital investments and expenses:
137          (a) to implement an approved wildland fire protection plan; and
138          (b) not included in base rates.
139          Section 6. Section 54-24-203 is enacted to read:
140          54-24-203. Wildland fire protection plan for an electric cooperative.
141          (1) An electric cooperative shall prepare a wildland fire protection plan in accordance
142     with the requirements of this chapter.
143          (2) A wildland fire protection plan under Subsection (1) shall include:
144          (a) a description of areas within the service territory of the electric cooperative that
145     may be subject to a heightened risk of wildland fire;
146          (b) a description of the procedures, standards, and time frames that the electric
147     cooperative will use to inspect and operate its infrastructure;
148          (c) a description of the procedures and standards that the electric cooperative will use
149     to perform vegetation management;

150          (d) a description of proposed modifications or upgrades to facilities and preventative
151     programs that the electric cooperative will implement to reduce the risk of its electric facilities
152     initiating a wildland fire;
153          (e) a description of procedures for de-energizing power lines and disabling reclosers to
154     mitigate potential wildland fires, taking into consideration:
155          (i) the ability of the electric cooperative to reasonably access the proposed power line
156     to be de-energized;
157          (ii) the balance of the risk of wildland fire with the need for continued supply of
158     electricity to a community; and
159          (iii) any potential impact to public safety, first responders, and health and
160     communication infrastructure;
161          (f) a description of the procedures the electric cooperative intends to use to restore its
162     electrical system in the event of a wildland fire; and
163          (g) a description of potential consultation, if applicable, with state or local wildland fire
164     protection plans.
165          (3) (a) An electric cooperative shall submit the wildland fire protection plan described
166     in this section to its governing authority:
167          (i) on or before June 1, 2020; and
168          (ii) on or before October 1 of every third year after calendar year 2020.
169          (b) The governing authority shall:
170          (i) review the plan submitted under Subsection (3)(a); and
171          (ii) consider input from:
172          (A) the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands created in Section 65A-1-4;
173          (B) any other appropriate federal, state, or local entity that chooses to provide input;
174     and
175          (C) other interested persons who choose to provide input.
176          (c) The governing authority shall approve a wildland fire protection plan submitted
177     under Subsection (3)(a) if the plan:
178          (i) is reasonable and in the interest of the electric cooperative members; and
179          (ii) appropriately balances the costs of implementing the plan with the risk of a
180     potential wildland fire.

181          (d) An electric cooperative shall file with the commission a wildland fire protection
182     plan submitted and approved under this section.
183          (4) An electric cooperative shall:
184          (a) file with its governing authority an annual report detailing the electric cooperative's
185     compliance with the wildland fire protection plan; and
186          (b) file with the commission a copy of the annual compliance report described in
187     Subsection (4)(a).
188          (5) The commission shall make available for public inspection:
189          (a) a wildland fire protection plan filed under Subsection (3)(d); and
190          (b) an annual compliance report filed under Subsection (4)(b).
191          Section 7. Section 65A-3-4 is amended to read:
192          65A-3-4. Liability for causing wildland fires.
193          (1) As used in this section:
194          (a) "Electric cooperative" means the same as that term is defined in Section 54-24-102.
195          (b) "Electrical transmission wildland fire protection plan" means a wildland fire
196     protection plan, as defined in Section 54-24-102, that is:
197          (i) prepared and submitted by a qualified utility and approved as provided in Section
198     54-24-201; or
199          (ii) prepared and submitted by an electric cooperative and approved as provided in
200     Section 54-24-203.
201          (c) "Qualified utility" means the same as that term is defined in Section 54-17-801.
202          [(1) A] (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person who negligently,
203     recklessly, or intentionally causes or spreads a wildland fire shall be liable for the cost of
204     suppressing that wildland fire, regardless of whether the fire begins on:
205          [(a)] (i) private land;
206          [(b)] (ii) land owned by the state;
207          [(c)] (iii) federal land; or
208          [(d)] (iv) tribal land.
209          [(2)] (b) The conduct described in Subsection [(1)] (2)(a) includes any negligent,
210     reckless, or intentional conduct, and is not limited to conduct described in Section 65A-3-2.
211          (3) In an action under this section to recover for property damage resulting from a

212     wildland fire or to recover the cost of fire suppression resulting from a wildland fire, a qualified
213     utility or electric cooperative may not be considered to have negligently caused a wildland fire
214     if:
215          (a) (i) the electrical transmission wildland fire protection plan of the qualified utility or
216     electric cooperative identifies and addresses the cause of the wildland fire for fire mitigation
217     purposes; and
218          (ii) at the origin of the wildland fire, the qualified utility or electric cooperative has
219     completed the fire mitigation work identified in the electrical transmission wildland fire
220     protection plan, including:
221          (A) inspection, maintenance, and repair activities;
222          (B) modifications or upgrades to facilities or construction of new facilities;
223          (C) vegetation management work; and
224          (D) preventative programs; or
225          (b) (i) the qualified utility or electric cooperative is denied or delayed access to a
226     right-of-way on land owned by the state, a federal agency, or a tribal government after the
227     qualified utility or electric cooperative requests access to the right-of-way to perform
228     vegetation management or fire mitigation work in accordance with an electrical transmission
229     wildland fire protection plan; and
230          (ii) the electrical transmission wildland fire protection plan identifies and addresses the
231     cause of the wildland fire for fire mitigation purposes.
232          [(3)] (4) A person who incurs costs to suppress a wildland fire may bring an action
233     under this section to recover those costs.
234          (5) (a) A property owner who suffers damages resulting from a wildland fire may bring
235     an action under this section to recover those damages.
236          (b) An award of damages to a real property resulting from a wildland fire, including the
237     loss of vegetation, shall be the lesser of:
238          (i) the cost to restore the real property to its pre-wildland fire condition; or
239          (ii) the difference between:
240          (A) the fair market value of the real property before the wildland fire; and
241          (B) the fair market value of the real property after the wildland fire.
242          [(4)] (6) A person who suffers damage from a wildland fire may pursue all other legal

243     remedies in addition to seeking damages under Subsection [(3)] (4) or (5).
244          Section 8. Section 78B-6-1002 is amended to read:
245          78B-6-1002. Right of action for injuries to trees -- Damage.
246          [Any] (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), any person who, without authority,
247     willfully or intentionally cuts down or carries off any wood or underwood, tree or timber, or
248     girdles or otherwise willfully or intentionally injures any tree or timber on the land of another
249     person, or on the street or highway in front of any person's house, town or city lot, or cultivated
250     grounds, or on the commons or public grounds of any city or town, or on the street or highway
251     in front, without lawful authority, is liable to the owner of such land, or to the city or town, for
252     treble the amount of damages which may be assessed in a civil action.
253          (2) (a) The provisions of this section do not apply to injuries to a tree or timber on the
254     land of another arising from a wildland fire.
255          (b) Liability for injuries to a tree or timber on the land of another arising from a
256     wildland fire is determined in accordance with Section 65A-3-4.