Page 6 - UFRA Straight Tip Spring 2021 - Volume 22 Issue 2

Coy D. Porter retired from Provo Fire & Rescue after 30 years of service; he then worked for almost four years as the assistant director of training at UFRA. Porter enjoys his association with the firefighters of Utah in his position as state fire marshal.
From the State Fire Marshal
Legislation to Watch
We are once again in the legislative session, and as always, there’s a lot happening on Capitol Hill. Here are some of the fire-related legislation that you may want to be aware of.
Last year, we were able to secure permanent funding for the Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, with Senator Harper sponsoring Senate Bill 209 Fire and Rescue Training Amendments. A few months after it was passed, we discovered that the language in the bill had inadvertently taken away some of the abilities of the Utah Fire Prevention Board to ensure that the Fire Certification Council and other committees had authority to do their assignments. Senator Harper is sponsoring Senate Bill 109 Emer- gency Services Amendments this year to correct that mistake.
There are three bills this year dealing with mental health protections and services for first responders and retired responders.
Several bills are proposing changes to fire code and zoning require- ments. SB 33 Uniform Building Code Commission Amendments will adopt the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code. HB 82 Single- Family Housing Modifications allows for “Accessory Dwelling Units” (basement apartments in existing owner-occupied homes) to be legal with some modifications of current codes and zoning requirements. HB 98 Local Government Building Regulations Amendments would al- low builders to “opt out” of having their plans reviewed by cities/towns if the plans have an architect or engineer’s stamp on them. It would also allow the builder to hire a licensed building inspector to inspect the construction who is not an employee of the city/town. Most everyone from the code officials to the League of Cities and Towns oppose the current language in this bill.
There are also a couple of bills dealing with emergency management. One of these bills requires cities to have an emergency manager and an Emergency Management Plan (House Bill 96 and Senate Bill 23).
Two bills deal with support for Forestry, Fire and State Lands for staff- ing and program funding as well as ensuring that all utility companies have a wildland plan.
SB 53 Behavioral Emergency Services Amendments will create a posi- tion where an individual can become licensed by BEMS to be a mental health first responder.
There are two different bills dealing with exemptions to the handheld device law while driving that would allow responders and other service
providers to use their devices to call 911, to use their radios to ask for other emergency-related services to be dispatched, or to communicate with other responders (HB 160 & SB 101).
Several potential bills are waiting to be introduced. One will reduce road widths to 32’ of asphalt; another will deal with residential energy storage systems; another is a bill that will provide a base level of service for ambulances as well as deal with some of the longstanding controversy as to geographical EMS licenses.
Other bills will come up as we move through the legislative session, and we’ll be sure to track them as they pop up. I would encourage you to go to the legislative website https://le.utah.gov/ to look at bills and where they are in the process. Also be aware that the Utah Joint Coun- cil of Fire Service Organizations and some other groups meet weekly during the session to discuss and vote on what position the fire service will take on the bills.
Please reach out to your local legislators to encourage them to be aware of the bills that directly affect your abilities to do your community ser- vice the best you can and that protect the your funding and resources to provide those services.
As always, please be safe out there!
Coy
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STATE FIRE MARSHAL