Colorado bill to make sure Search and Rescues are Free

A new bill was recently introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives. This bill would prohibit charging for search and rescue in the state of Colorado.

This bill will need your support.

To stay current on the bill contact your local SAR unit or go to the Facebook Page No Charge for Rescue. The red capitalized text below is the changes to the Colorado statute that will be made.

Support House bill 10-1095.

Second Regular Session

Sixty-seventh General Assembly

STATE OF COLORADO

INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 10-0629.01 Gregg Fraser             HOUSE BILL 10-1095

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING A LIMITATION ON THE AUTHORITY OF A FIRE

PROTECTION DISTRICT TO CHARGE FEES FOR PROVIDING

CERTAIN RESCUE SERVICES TO THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED AT

THE SCENE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does

not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill

passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that

applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at

http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.)

A fire protection district currently has the statutory authority to set

fees for ambulance or emergency medical services and extrication, rescue,

32-1-1002. Fire protection districts - additional powers and duties



(1) In addition to the powers specified in section 32-1-1001, the board of any fire protection district has the following powers for and on behalf of such district:

(a)    To acquire, dispose of, or encumber fire stations, fire protection and fire fighting equipment, and any interest therein, including leases and easements;

(b)    To have and exercise the power of eminent domain and dominant eminent domain and, in the manner provided by article 1 of title 38, C.R.S., to take any property necessary to the exercise of the powers granted, both within and without the special district;

(c)    To undertake and to operate as a part of the duties of the fire protection district an ambulance service, an emergency medical service, a rescue unit, and a diving and grappling service;

(d)    To adopt and enforce fire codes, as the board deems necessary, but no such code shall apply within any municipality or the unincorporated portion of any county unless the governing body of the municipality or county, as the case may be, adopts a resolution stating that such code or specific portions thereof shall be applicable within the fire protection district's boundaries; except that nothing in this paragraph (d) shall be construed to affect any fire codes existing on June 30, 1981, which have been adopted by the governing body of a municipality or county. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no fire protection district shall prohibit the sale of permissible fireworks, as defined in section 12-28-101 (8), C.R.S., within its jurisdiction.

(e)    To fix and from time to time increase or decrease fees and charges as follows, and the board may pledge such revenue for the payment of any indebtedness of the district:

(I)    For ambulance or emergency medical services and extrication, rescue, or safety services provided in furtherance of ambulance or emergency medical services. "Extrication, rescue, or safety services" includes but is not limited to any:

(A)    Services provided prior to the arrival of an ambulance;

(B)    Rescue or extrication of trapped or injured parties AT THE SCENE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT; and

(C)    Lane safety or blocking provided by district equipment.

(II)    For requested or mandated inspections if a fire code is in existence on June 30, 1981, as specified in paragraph (d) of this subsection (1) or has been adopted thereafter pursuant to said paragraph (d);

(III)    For requested inspections if a fire code has been adopted by the board of the fire protection district, whether or not the code has been adopted by a municipality or county pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subsection (1);

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