HB 1187 — Sunset Fire Suppression Programs

SecondNOTE: Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REREVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the Second House LLS NO.

26-0367.01This Nicolebill Myershas x4326been HOUSEprepared BILLfor 26-1187the HOUSEsignatures SPONSORSHIPof Stewartthe R.appropriate legislative officers and the Governor.

andTo Nguyen,determine Boesenecker,whether Froelich,the Jackson,Governor Lindsay,has Paschal,signed Phillips,the Velasco,bill Clifford,or Rutinel,taken Smith,other Story,action Titoneon SENATEit, SPONSORSHIPplease Exumconsult andthe Snyder,legislative Amabile,status Bridges,sheet, Coleman,the Gonzaleslegislative J.,history, Jodeh,or Kipp,the Kolker,Session Lindstedt,Laws. Marchman, Mullica, Roberts, Wallace d d e 6 a 0 T n 2 N g 2 E i i House Committees Senate Committees S a p Transportation, Housing & Local Government Local Government & Housing e A Appropriations Appropriations d d d A BILL FOR AN ACT e 6 E a 0 C ONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION A U , N g 2 PROGRAMS OF THE DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND S d p e A CONTROL ,AND ,IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,IMPLEMENTING R THERECOMMENDATIONSOFTHEDEPARTMENTOFREGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT 'S 2025 SUNSET REPORT .

dHOUSE BillBILL Summary26-1187 eBY 6REPRESENTATIVE(S) mStewart 0R. S n , (Note:

This summary applies to this bill as introduced and doesNguyen, UBoesenecker, gFroelich, 1Jackson, OLindsay, iPaschal, cPhillips, notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.IfthisbillVelasco, HClifford, eRutinel, aSmith, RStory, MTitone; passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that r applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at 3 http://leg.colorado.gov/.) e Sunset Process - House Transportation, Housing, and Local n Government Committee.

Thealso billSENATOR(S) implementsExum theand recommendationsSnyder, ofAmabile, eBridges, 2Gonzales EJ., aJodeh, 2Kipp, UKolker, ULindstedt, 3Marchman, OMullica, nRoberts, hWallace, ShadingColeman. denotes HOUSE amendment.

DoubleCONCERNING underliningTHE denotesCONTINUATION SENATEOF amendment.THE FIRE SUPPRESSION PROGRAMS OF THE DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL , AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT S 2025 SUNSET REPORT .

H a a Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.e M Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

d the department of regulatory agencies in its 2025 sunset review and report.

Sections1and2ofthebillcontinuethefiresuppressionprograms of the division of fire prevention and control for 11 years until 2037 (recommendation 1).

Sections 3 through 5 modify certain provisions of the fire suppression programs of the division of fire prevention and control to replace gender-specific terminology with gender-neutral terminology (recommendation 2).

(2) Sections 24-33.5-1204.5, 24-33.5-1206.1, 24-33.5-1206.2, 24-33.5-1206.3, 24-33.5-1206.4, 24-33.5-1206.5, 24-33.5-1206.6, and 24-33.5-1207.6,________ concerningCapital programsletters foror firebold suppression& administereditalic bynumbers theindicate divisionnew ofmaterial fireadded preventionto andexisting control,law; and this section are repealed, effective September 1, 2026SEPTEMBER 1, 2037.

dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act.

24-33.5-1207.6, concerning programs forfiresuppressionadministeredby the division of fire prevention and controland this section are repealed, effective September 1, 2026 SEPTEMBER 1, 2037.

and add (38)(a)(II)(38)(a)(III) as follows:

GeneralGeneralassembly assembly review ofofregulatory regulatoryagenciesand agenciesfunctions andfunctionsforrepeal,continuation,orreestablishment-legislativefor repeal, continuation, or reestablishment - legislative declaration - repeal.

(27)(a)(27) Thefollowingagencies,functions,orboth,arescheduled(a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2026:

(XIII) The fire suppression programs of the division of fire preventionpreventionandcontrolcreatedinsections24-33.5-1204.5,24-33.5-1206.1, and control created in sections 24-33.5-1204.5, -2- 1187 24-33.5-1206.1, 24-33.5-1206.2, 24-33.5-1206.3, 24-33.5-1206.4, 24-33.5-1206.5, 24-33.5-1206.6, and 24-33.5-1207.6;

(38)(a)(38) Thefollowingagencies,functions,orboth,arescheduled(a) The following agencies, functions, or both, are scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2037:

(II)(III) THE FIRE SUPPRESSION PROGRAMS OF THE DIVISION OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL CREATED IN SECTIONS 24-33.5-1204.5, 24-33.5-1206.1, 24-33.5-1206.2, 24-33.5-1206.3, 24-33.5-1206.4, 24-33.5-1206.5,24-33.5-1206.6,AND24-33.5-1206.5, 24-33.5-1206.6, AND 24-33.5-1207.6.

SECTIONSECTION3. 3.

InInColoradoRevisedStatutes,24-33.5-1206.2,amend Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1206.2, amend (2)(a) as follows:

(2) (a) AnyAnyworking working plans and hydraulic calculations submitted for reviewreviewbytheadministratororbyacertifiedlocalfiresuppressioninspector bypursuanttosubparagraph(II)ofparagraph(b)ofsubsection(1) the administrator or by a certified local fire suppression inspectorpursuanttosubparagraph(II)ofparagraph(b)ofsubsection(1) SUBSECTION (1)(b)(II)(1)(b)(II)ofthissectionmustbearthesignatureandcertificationnumberof ofeitheralicensedprofessionalengineeroralevelthreeorhigherengineering this section must bear the signature and certification number of either a licensed professional engineer or a level three or higher engineering technician (fire suppression engineering technology - automatic sprinkler PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1187 design or fire suppression engineering technology- special hazards system layout),layout),whicheverisrelevanttotheparticularjobordesign,certifiedbythe whichever is relevant to the particular job or design, certified by the national institute for the certification of engineering technologists.

Such licensed professional engineer or engineering technician shall certify that he or she hashasTHEY HAVE reviewed the plan and design and findsFINDfinds FIND that ititmeetstheapplicablestandardsadoptedbytheadministratorforfiresafety meetsand the applicable standards adopted bythe administrator for fire safetyand that it is adequately designed to meet the system requirements.

SECTIONSECTION4. 4.

InInColoradoRevisedStatutes,24-33.5-1206.4,amend Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1206.4, amend (2)(c) and (3)(c)(II) as follows:

-3- 1187 24-33.5-1206.4.

(2)(c) Theadministratororhis THEADMINISTRATOR S'Sagentshallbe agentshallavailabletoprovidesuchfiresafetyinspectionstoanycounty,municipality, be available to provide such fire safety inspections to any county, municipality, or special district on a contractual or job-by-job basis.

The county, municipality,municipality,orspecialdistrictshallpaytheactualcostsofsuchinspections or special district shall paythe actual costs of such inspections by the administrator or hishisHE ADMINISTRATOR 'Sagents.S agents.

(3) Every inspection of a fire suppression system conducted pursuant to this part 12 shall be by a person certified as having met the inspectioninspectiontrainingrequirementssetbytheadministrator.Suchpersonshall: training requirements set by the administrator.

Such(c)(II) personHavedemonstratedtotheadministratorthattheapplicanthas shall:met such other equivalent qualifications, including but not limited to education and experience, as may be prescribed by rule and regulation.

(c)If (II) Have demonstrated to the administrator that the applicant has met such other equivalent qualifications, including but not limited to educationandexperience,asmaybeprescribedbyruleandregulation .If the head of a county, municipality, or special district that has fire suppressionsuppressionsystemenforcementresponsibilitydeterminesthattheapplicant systemhas enforcementmet responsibilitythe determinesqualifications thatadopted thepursuant applicanthasmetthequalificationsadoptedpursuanttothissubparagraphto (II)SUBSECTIONthis subparagraph (II) SUBSECTION (3)(c)(II), then THEYhTHEY shall notify the administrator, who shall certify the applicant;

or SECTIONSECTION5. 5.

InInColoradoRevisedStatutes,24-33.5-1206.6,amend Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1206.6, amend (2)(d), (4), and (5)(a) as follows:

(2) In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (1) of this section, the administrator may withhold, deny, suspend, or revoke the PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1187 registration or certification of anyanyregistered registered fire suppression contractor or certifiedcertifiedfiresafetyinspectororapplicantthereforiftheadministratorfinds, fire safetyinspector or applicant therefor if the administrator finds, upon proof, that any such person has committed any of the -4- 1187 following:

(d) PerformingPerforminganyservicesinanegligentmannerorpermittingany anyof serviceshisTHEIR inagents a negligent manner or permittingemployees anyto ofperformservices hisHEIRin agentsagrosslynegligent ormanner, employeesregardless toof performwhether servicesactual indamage aor grosslydamages negligentmanner,regardlessofwhetheractualdamageordamagestotheto the public is established;

(4) ApersonactingasafiresuppressioncontractormaynotbringA person acting as a fire suppression contractor may not bring any legal action to collect compensation due for performing any act for which registration is required pursuant to section 24-33.5-1206.1 unless suchcontractorallegesandprovesthathewassuch THEYWEREcontractor dulyregisteredalleges and proves that he was THEY WERE duly registered under said section at the time the alleged cause of action arose.

(5) (a) Any person who provides testimony with respect to a disciplinarydisciplinarymatter matter and anyanyperson person who lodges a complaint pursuant to this section shall bemmunebeISimmune fromfromliabilityin liabilityanycivil inactionbroughtagainst any civil action brought against such person for acts occurring while acting in his or her THEIR capacity as a witness or complainant.

on the day following the expiration of the ninety-dayperiodafterfinaladjournmentofthegeneralassembly(Augustninety-dayperiod after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026);

except that, if a referendumreferendumpetitionisfiledpursuanttosection1(3)ofarticleVofthestate petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approvedPAGE by4-HOUSE theBILL people26-1187 atapprovedbythepeopleatthegeneralelectiontobeheldinNovember2026 the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.