HB 1394: Colorado Disaster Emergency Act Amendments

• Expands the Colorado Disaster Emergency Act to address all phases of emergency management including preparation, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery from all-hazards disasters.

• Creates the Governor's Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee with specific membership including state officials, private sector experts, and appointed specialists to advise on emergency epidemics and maintain response plans.

• Establishes the Colorado Resiliency Office within the Department of Local Affairs to develop comprehensive resiliency and community recovery programs, provide technical assistance to local governments, and support long-term disaster recovery efforts.

• Reorganizes the Office of Emergency Management to create comprehensive emergency management programs addressing all disaster phases and updates terminology throughout statute from "disaster" to "emergency management" agencies.

• Revises disaster emergency fund provisions, removes council review requirement for expenditures, and allows governor to establish reimbursement rules for state agencies and political subdivisions responding to disaster requests.