In Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further providing for forests and establishing the Forest Fire Warden Fund.
Summary
HB1379 amends the Conservation and Natural Resources Act to expand the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ authority over forest fire warden activities and to create a new Forest Fire Warden Fund in the State Treasury. The bill authorizes the Chief Forest Fire Warden, with the secretary’s approval, to approve a broader set of local forest fire warden activities for reimbursement, including prescribed burns, public relations events, fire investigations, required training, suppression, patrol and lookout duties, and responding to mutual aid requests from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency or the Governor during emergencies.
The bill also establishes the Forest Fire Warden Fund as a separate, continuing appropriation to the department. Money in the fund would be used to reimburse approved activities and for other expenses the Chief Forest Fire Warden deems necessary, subject to the secretary’s approval, to carry out forest fire functions. The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
HB1379 would change state law by adding explicit reimbursement authority for local forest fire wardens and by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for forest fire warden operations. It affects the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Chief Forest Fire Warden, local forest fire wardens, and the State Treasury by establishing a continuing appropriation for eligible expenses tied to forest fire prevention, response, and related preparedness activities.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests strong bipartisan support and little opposition. In the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, both the amendment and the bill as amended passed 26-0, indicating broad agreement that the measure addresses a practical funding and operational need for forest fire wardens and emergency response support.
Contention
No major controversy is evident in the provided materials. The only likely points of discussion are the scope of reimbursable activities and the breadth of the new fund’s use, particularly the inclusion of suppression, patrol, lookout duties, and mutual aid response expenses. However, the unanimous committee votes suggest these issues were not divisive among committee members.