Utah Votes

2004 House Bill 146

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  • Introduced by Rep. Craig W. Buttars on January 19, 2004, this bill requires a county, in order to be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands relating to fire protection, to: adopt a wildland fire ordinance; require the county fire department or private provider to meet certain minimum standards; and file an annual budget. The bill prevents counties that do not enter into a cooperative agreement with the division from being eligible for financial assistance from the division.
  • Passed in the House by voice vote on February 24, 2004.
  • Received in the Senate on March 2, 2004.
  • Passed in the Senate by voice vote on March 2, 2004.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Craig W. Buttars on January 19, 2004. Passed in the House by voice vote on February 24, 2004. New Comment

1) Cost to Taxpayers [by balootex on June 11, 2005]
There are a few problems with this bill. It basically forces cities and counties to pay UFRA (Utah Fire and Rescue Academy) for certification testing that is currently done, free of charge, through the federal system.

1. The bill requires wildland firefighters to “meet to certain minimum standards,” as determined by the state certification counsel.
• The certification counsel is made up of all structure firefighters that have no wildland experience.
• There is already a national standard in place that all wildland firefighters must adhere to. Known as the NWCG Standard (National Wildfire Coordinating Group), it “sets policies and standards for all United States Wildland Firefighters.”
• Policies and Standards are identical for both the Certification counsel and NWCG. However, NWCG does not require a fee to test or certify. The certification counsel requires a fee for each firefighter tested. County and City taxes will have to be raised to cover the testing. The Certification Counsel is also doubling the current cost of testing.
• State Certification will ONLY be recognized in the state of UT. While NWCG is a recognized national standard.
• On large fire incidents, that we have every year, is this law going to require firefighters from outside Utah to certify before they can work in the state? Or are their NWCG qualifications adequate to work here? If NWCG is adequate why raise Utah’s taxes to cover this totally unnecessary bill?
• All the money generated from the unneeded certification testing goes directly to UFRA, Part of UVSC (Utah Valley State College). And most, if not all of the Certification Counsel personnel work for UFRA (most as instructors for structure firefighting).

2. The second part of this bill that does not make sense is; it calls for counties to file an annual budget.
• Every county already has an annual budget.
• Every county fire warden is already limited buy their fire budget. What is the state talking about?

The problem with this bill is that it’s only purpose is to force both cities and counties to pay cash to UFRA for the testing and pay wages to their firefighters to take the tests (EVERY YEAR). Reminder: this certification has to be done through NWCG to be recognized nationally, which is free. Why should cities and counties have to pay and force firefighters to retest for UFRA?

I am against it, and EVERY firefighter I know is against it. Because it is all repetitious and costly, we (wildland firefighters) all believe it is a scheme to raise money for UFRA and nothing more. Please stop this now!

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