Sen. Steve Fenberg

The act appropriates $54,276,399 to the legislative department for the payment of expenses in the 2021-22 state fiscal year. Additionally, the act appropriates $25,000 to the youth advisory council cash fund within the legislative department.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act directs the state treasurer to transfer $30,800,000 from the general fund to the Colorado firefighting air corps fund to support the following purposes:The purchase by the division of fire prevention and control (division) in the department of public safety of a fire hawk helicopter (helicopter) configured for wildfire mitigation; and The leasing by the division of a type 1 helicopter or other available and appropriate aviation resource configured for wildfire mitigation in advance of the 2021 wildfire season and for the operational costs associated with the leased and purchased aviation resources. In addition to any other purpose for the use of money in the wildfire emergency preparedness fund (WEPF), the act permits the division of fire prevention and control in the department of public safety to use money in the WEPF to provide wildfire suppression assistance to county sheriffs, municipal fire departments, or fire protection districts throughout the state at no cost to such entities pursuant to annual guidelines published by the division in the wildfire preparedness plan.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act authorizes the executive committee of the legislative council (executive committee) to allow electronic participation in legislative proceedings during a declared disaster emergency caused by a public health emergency infecting or exposing a great number of people to disease, agents, toxins, or other such threats, and, if it is allowed, to establish policies governing such electronic participation.If a member cannot participate electronically from the member's home due to a technological limitation, the member may receive reimbursement for travel expenses to an alternate location to allow the member to participate electronically. The amount of the reimbursement cannot exceed the amount the member would customarily receive for travel expenses to Denver to participate in person. A member is not entitled to reimbursement for any other expenses incurred in connection with electronic participation.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first regular session of the seventy-third general assembly, the bill allows joint committees of reference that are required to hold hearings commonly referred to as SMART Act hearings to conduct the hearings at any time after the general assembly convenes, including while the general assembly is temporarily adjourned. Legislators, departments, and the public may participate remotely in accordance with policies established by the executive committee or the joint rules of the senate and house of representatives.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)