State emergency offices would coordinate disaster recovery and communications

The Office of Emergency Management would lead statewide disaster recovery planning and maintain a recovery task force. The task force would coordinate recovery work among state departments and agencies, including damage assessments, recovery support functions, and recommendations to the governor. The task force would act when the office director activates it. People who provide personal information about disaster-affected individuals may ask in writing that it be shared only for disaster relief. An agency could not share that information without the provider’s express written consent after such a request. These duties would begin when the act takes effect and would continue while the office carries out its recovery responsibilities.

The Office of Emergency Management would maintain a disaster survivor portal for applications for approved state disaster assistance. The portal could connect disaster survivors with state and federal aid, rebuilding programs, and information in accessible formats and relevant community languages. Information stored in the portal would not be subject to disclosure under the Colorado Open Records Act. The office could share aggregated recovery data with government agencies, volunteer groups, federal partners, the press, and the public. The portal requirement would apply when the act takes effect; the text does not state a separate deadline for creating or maintaining it.

The emergency communications unit would train and credential auxiliary communicators and authorize qualified unit members as volunteers. Covered volunteers would be trained amateur radio operators or other unit leadership and support staff who meet the office’s credentialing requirements. The director could deny credentials after a background check and could require an additional name-based court-record check in certain cases. Qualified volunteers would receive specified legal protections and benefits while helping with communications facilities or division activities. The unit could use state vehicles during division activities and reimburse members for reasonable duty-related expenses. These duties and protections would apply when the act takes effect, including during training, exercises, drills, and disaster response activities.

The office would bill users for the full direct and indirect cost of public safety communications services and network components. The charges would cover materials, labor, depreciation, and administrative overhead for users of the office’s services and network. Revenue would go to the public safety communications revolving fund. The office could contract with private entities that use the network or its components. Municipalities, counties, cities and counties, and special districts could not incur user charges for public safety radio systems provided by a state agency or other state entity. The billing method would apply when the act takes effect; the text also says full implementation was required by July 1, 2023.