C.R.S. tit. 23, art. 81 — Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Educators | Colorado Revised Statutes (2024 edition) — Colorado

C.R.S. § 23-81-101 Definitions

23-81-101. Definitions. As used in this article 81, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Area technical college" has the meaning set forth in section 23-60-103 (1). (2) "Board" means the state board for community colleges and occupational education created in section 23-60-104. (3) "Committee" means the wildfire matters review committee created in section 2-3-1602, or any successor committee. (4) "Community college" means a community college described in section 23-60-205 that is governed by the board. (5) "Department" means the department of higher education. (6) "Institution" means a community college, area technical college, or local district college. (7) "Local district college" has the meaning set forth in section 23-71-102 (1). (8) "Program" means the recruitment of wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators program described in section 23-81-102. (9) "Qualified wildland fire prevention and mitigation educator" means a person with the necessary experience and education, and who satisfies all requirements of state and federal law or the institution's policy, to be an educator at the institution.

C.R.S. § 23-81-102 Recruitment of wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators program - report - definition

23-81-102. Recruitment of wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators program - report - definition. (1) Subject to available appropriations, the board shall administer the recruitment of wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators program to increase the number of available qualified wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators. (2) The board shall allocate grants, pursuant to section 23-18-308 (1)(k), to institutions that deliver a wildland fire prevention and mitigation degree or certificate program or course. The institutions may use the money to: (a) Provide the compensation and benefits necessary to attract and retain qualified wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators; and (b) Train persons to become qualified wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators. (3) (a) For the 2023-24 and the 2024-25 state fiscal years, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department for allocation by the board for use in accordance with subsection (2) of this section two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund in each state fiscal year, of which one percent may be used for administration of the program. Any amount of the appropriation that is unencumbered or unexpended at the end of either the 2023-24 state fiscal year or the 2024-25 state fiscal year: (I) Does not revert to the general fund or any other fund; (II) May be used by the board in the subsequent state fiscal year without further appropriation; and (III) Must not be used for any other purpose other than the purposes set forth in this section. (b) In addition to the appropriation in this section, the board may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations from private or public sources for the program. (4) On or before January 1, 2024, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter in which the committee meets, the department shall provide a summarized report regarding the program to the committee. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the reporting requirement in this subsection (4) continues indefinitely.