AN ACT

RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION; CREATING THE FIRE PLANNING TASK FORCE TO WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEVELOPING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR BUILDING CODES AND ORDINANCES THAT WILL REDUCE THE THREAT OF FOREST FIRES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. FIRE PLANNING TASK FORCE--DUTIES.--

A. The "fire planning task force" is created. The task force shall consist of twelve members as follows:

(1) the state fire marshal;

(2) the director of the local government division of the department of finance and administration;

(3) a representative of the commissioner of public lands;

(4) a representative of the federal bureau of land management on behalf of the United States department of the interior, appointed by the governor after consulting with the department of the interior;

(5) a representative of the United States forest service, appointed by the governor, after consulting with the forest service;

(6) a member of a local fire department, appointed by the governor;

(7) a member of a volunteer fire department;

(8) a representative of the New Mexico association of counties;

(9) a representative of the New Mexico municipal league;

(10) the director of the construction industries division of the regulation and licensing department;

(11) the state forester; and

(12) a representative of an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo, appointed by the governor.

B. The chair of the task force shall be elected by the task force. The task force shall meet at the call of the chair.

C. The public members of the task force shall receive per diem and mileage pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

D. The forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department, with assistance from the department of finance and administration, shall provide staff for the task force.

E. The task force shall:

(1) identify those areas within the state that, because of the interface between forests and urban buildings, are the most vulnerable to danger from forest fires;

(2) develop standards for building codes and ordinances that will reduce the threat of forest fires. In developing the standards, the task force shall:

(a) recognize the distinction between altering existing situations and establishing standards for new construction;

(b) consider the benefits of thinning overgrown forests, conducting controlled burns, clearing spaces around homes and other structures, using noncombustible roofing materials and double-pane windows and taking other fire suppression or prevention measures;

(c) consider the impact of fire mitigation measures on wildlife; and

(d) solicit comments from affected landowners, land users and local governments;

(3) work with communities in the affected areas in adopting and implementing the building codes and ordinances; and

(4) report its progress and any recommendations for legislation to the governor and the legislature by December 15 of each year.