SF0152

Amends state forester duties to include wildfire control programs, creates a wildfire management task force, appropriates funds for 2024 wildfire suppression costs, and authorizes emergency borrowing for wildfire response.

• Expands the state forester's duties to include maintaining wildland and forestry fire control programs, including fire management on state lands, fire suppression assistance throughout Wyoming, pre-positioning equipment and personnel during high wildfire risk periods, supporting local fire jurisdiction training, and establishing standards for privately contracted wildland fire resources. (W.S. 36-2-108(b)(xi), Sec. 1)
• Grants the state forester authority to adopt rules as necessary to fulfill division duties and to appoint assistants and employees needed to execute those duties. (W.S. 36-2-108(b)(ix), W.S. 36-2-108(b)(x), Sec. 1)
• Creates the wildfire management task force composed of four legislative members (two from House, two from Senate with designated co-chairs), five state government officials (governor/designee, Wyoming fire advisory board president/designee, state forester/designee, state insurance commissioner/designee), and three appointees by the governor representing local governments, agriculture industry, and wildland fire expertise. (Sec. 2(a))
• Tasks the wildfire management task force with studying wildfire impacts to private and state lands, local fire jurisdictions, individuals and communities, and evaluating wildland fire response systems including funding, suppression, training, coordination, and prevention. (Sec. 2(b))
• Requires the wildfire management task force to report findings and legislative recommendations to the governor, joint agriculture/state/public lands/water resources interim committee, and joint appropriations committee no later than October 1, 2025. The task force terminates December 31, 2026. (Sec. 2(b)(iii), Sec. 2(e))
• Appropriates $25,000 from the general fund to the legislative service office for task force member compensation and expenses from the effective date through June 30, 2027, and $25,000 to the office of the governor for nonlegislative member mileage and per diem for the same period. (Sec. 2(f), Sec. 2(g))