SB 18-275

Senate Bill 18-275 aims to address the current restrictions on seaplanes in Colorado state parks by allowing for their inspection and decontamination to prevent aquatic nuisances. The bill also sets up a process to evaluate whether seaplanes should be allowed access to two specific lakes within state parks, while still prohibiting regular landings except during emergencies like firefighting operations. Since the bill has been signed into law, it means that these changes are now official policy in Colorado, affecting how seaplanes can operate in state park waters.

Official Summary

Current state park law excludes seaplanes from the definition of a 'vessel', and applicable park rules essentially prohibit seaplanes from landing in or taking off from state park water bodies. The bill: Directs the division of parks and wildlife in the department of natural resources to: Establish proposed procedures for the mandatory inspection and decontamination of seaplanes landing on water bodies in the state for the purposes of aquatic nuisance species prevention and containment and report on the procedures to the general assembly by September 1, 2019; and Establish a stakeholder process to evaluate seaplane access to 2 lakes located at state parks identified by the division and report the results of the stakeholder process to the general assembly by September 1, 2019; and Specifies that the prohibition on the landing of seaplanes in state parks does not apply in the event of an emergency, including for seaplanes engaged in firefighting operations.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Votes