Senate Bill 22-002 Summary

• Establishes reimbursement eligibility for volunteer and seasonal firefighter departments from the Governor's Emergency Fund and Wildland Fire Cost Recovery Fund when wildfires exceed department capabilities and mutual aid has ended.

• Expands the Local Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Fund with $1 million appropriation for fiscal year 2022-23 and $5 million annually for fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 to support equipment, training, and behavioral health services.

• Prioritizes grant funding for volunteer fire departments that demonstrate greatest need for safety funding, have experienced tax revenue loss from wildland fires, or serve communities affected by wildfires.

• Creates a new firefighter behavioral health benefits program through a multiple employer behavioral health trust, providing prevention and treatment services for emotional, behavioral, and mental health disorders with funding from the safety and disease prevention fund.

• Authorizes county boards of commissioners to provide compensation and reimbursement to volunteer fire departments for wildland fire suppression expenses from county funding sources under specified circumstances.