(1) (a) The general assembly finds that: (I) Colorado communities and forests have suffered significant losses due to the increasing number and severity of wildfire events; and (II) Colorado lacks sufficient undergraduate degree and certificate programs in forestry, including wildfire mitigation, to meet the significant workforce needs of the state. (b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that additional investment is necessary to expand existing programs and create additional undergraduate degree and certificate programs across the state in forestry, including wildfire mitigation, to provide a vital workforce for Colorado and to keep the state's forests and communities healthy and safe. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Forestry program" means an undergraduate degree or certificate program that will meet forestry workforce needs, including forest health and management and wildfire mitigation. (b) "Public institution of higher education" means a state institution of higher education as identified in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), a local district college, or an area technical college. (c) "Simulator" means a harvesting simulator used to train students in operations relating to forest management. (3) (a) Subject to available appropriations, the commission may approve the expansion of existing forestry programs and the creation of new forestry programs at public institutions of higher education. The initial cost for the creation and expansion of forestry programs may be funded through grants approved by the commission. The department may use money appropriated for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 state fiscal years for grants pursuant to this section. (b) The grant may be used for: (I) Program design and administrative expenses necessary to expand or create the forestry programs; (II) The acquisition of a simulator for the forestry program once the program is established, which may be shared with forestry programs at other public institutions of higher education; and (III) Any other costs associated with expanding existing forestry programs or creating a new forestry program. (4) If more than one public institution of higher education wishes to expand an existing forestry program or create a new forestry program, the commission, in consultation with the Colorado state forest service, shall determine the location of the programs, prioritizing programs and public institutions of higher education that can provide a trained workforce expeditiously. In addition to other relevant factors, the commission shall consider: (a) The distribution of forestry programs across the state; (b) The need for a forestry workforce in the surrounding community or region of the state; (c) The projected student interest in the forestry programs at the competing locations; and (d) Accessibility and equity. (5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
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