HB 2106 Summary

• Establishes the position of State Fire Marshal within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, to be appointed by the State Fire Council without Senate confirmation.

• Grants the State Fire Marshal the same powers and authority as county fire chiefs, including coordinating statewide fire protection efforts, leading fire and arson investigations, and making arrests for arson.

• Authorizes the State Fire Marshal to employ seven fire enforcement officers with powers to issue citations to persons creating fire risks on state lands and to remove trespassers creating fire hazards.

• Makes an appropriation from general revenues for fiscal year 2024-2025 to fund the seven full-time fire enforcement officer positions.

• Declares the general fund expenditure ceiling will be exceeded due to the necessity of the appropriation to serve the public interest.