SB 190 Summary

• Amends 2 O.S. Section 16-26 to modify burning prohibitions during emergency drought conditions and add the State Fire Marshal as a gubernatorial advisor.

• Requires both the Division of Forestry and State Fire Marshal's office to advise the Governor when lands face extraordinary fire danger, enabling the Governor to declare a drought emergency by proclamation.

• Establishes "extreme fire danger" criteria including severe drought conditions per NOAA standards, forecast precipitation of no more than one-half inch in three days, and either significantly higher fire occurrence or more than 20% of wildfires caused by escaped debris or controlled burning.

• Requires county commissioners to obtain documented concurrence from a majority of municipal and certified rural fire department chiefs before declaring extreme fire danger, with resolutions effective for no more than 30 days unless renewed.

• Sets penalties for violating burning prohibitions during gubernatorial drought emergencies at up to $1,000 fine and/or one year imprisonment, and during county-level extreme fire danger periods at up to $500 fine and/or one year imprisonment.

• Effective November 1, 2015.