HB 24-1343

HB 24-1343 is a Colorado bill that establishes a grant program to help communities model and plan for wildfire evacuations. The program will provide grants to select recipients who can create detailed reports on evacuation times, routes, and other important information needed during wildfires. This initiative aims to improve safety in areas prone to wildfires by better preparing residents and emergency responders. As the bill has been signed into law, it is now active and the state treasurer will transfer $120,000 from the general fund to start this program, which will operate as a pilot until December 1, 2025, when its effectiveness will be reviewed by relevant committees.

Official Summary

The bill creates the wildfire evacuation modeling grant program (program) within the office of emergency management (office) for the purpose of awarding grants to eligible recipients to perform wildfire evacuation modeling and generate reports that include times, maps showing evacuation routes, and any other relevant metrics for the area for which the modeling is being conducted. The program is initially administered as a pilot program and the office must establish a limited number of eligible recipients to receive grants. On or before December 1, 2025, the office must submit a report to the house of representatives agriculture, water, and natural resources committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources committee, or their successor committees, regarding the pilot program, which may include recommendations for improving the program and recommendations on whether to continue the program. The bill also creates the wildfire evacuation modeling grant program cash fund (fund) for the purposes of awarding grants and covering administrative costs of the office for administering the program. On August 15, 2024, the state treasurer shall transfer $120,000 from the general fund to the fund. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)