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Committee approves firefighting pilot program funding for Burns and La Grande airports
Summary
Senate Bill 1035, as amended, establishes a pilot firefighting program at Burns Municipal Airport and La Grande (Union County) Airport, appropriating $2.18 million for vehicle fleets and $240,000 for a grant program, and allows OEM to hire or contract personnel to operate the fleets; committee sent the bill to Ways and Means with a do‑pass.
The Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs adopted the dash‑1 amendment to Senate Bill 1035 and voted to send the bill to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means with a do‑pass recommendation.
Committee staff described SB 1035 as establishing a pilot program to station vehicle fleets for firefighting purposes at Burns Municipal Airport and La Grande (Union County) Airport and directing OEM to maintain the fleets. The dash‑1 amendment allows OEM to hire or contract personnel to manage and operate the vehicle fleets, appropriates $2,180,000 for the vehicle fleet and $240,000 for the grant program, and establishes a pilot program airport fund in the State Treasury. The amendment permits OEM to use up to $48,000 for management and administration of the grant program. Committee staff said fiscal and revenue impact statements were issued and that the public hearing was held March 13.
Senator Brock Smith moved to adopt the dash‑1 amendment and then moved that SB 1035, as amended, be sent to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation and referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. The chair recorded a yes vote and announced the bill will be referred to Ways and Means for fiscal review. The committee closed its work session on the bill after the vote.
The dash‑1 amendment includes a repeal date for the pilot fund and a transfer of any remaining monies to the general fund on repeal; committee staff provided no further implementation timetable in the work session. No additional amendments were adopted in committee.
