CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
HOUSE BILL 2733
Chapter 172, Laws of 2018
65th Legislature
2018 Regular Session
PRESCRIBED BURN MANAGER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 7, 2018
HOUSE BILL 2733
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
Passed Legislature - 2018 Regular Session
State of Washington
65th Legislature
2018 Regular Session
By Representatives Orcutt, Chapman, Maycumber, Tharinger, Dent, Kretz, Blake, Fitzgibbon, and Muri
Read first time 01/15/18. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to establishing a prescribed burn certification program at the department of natural resources; and adding a new section to chapter 76.04 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 76.04 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department must create a prescribed burn manager certification program for those who practice prescribed burning in the state. The certification program must include training on all relevant aspects of prescribed fire in Washington including, but not limited to, the following: Legal requirements; safety; weather; fire behavior; smoke management; prescribed fire techniques; public relations; planning; and contingencies.
(2) The department may not require certification under the program created under subsection (1) of this section for burn permit approval under this chapter. Nothing in this section may be construed as creating a mandatory prescribed burn manager certification requirement to conduct prescribed burning in Washington.
(3) No civil or criminal liability may be imposed by any court, the state, or its officers and employees, on a prescribed burn manager certified under the program created under subsection (1) of this section, for any direct or proximate adverse impacts resulting from a prescribed fire conducted under the provisions of this chapter except upon proof of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
(4) The department may adopt rules to create the prescribed burn manager certification program and to set periodic renewal criteria. The rules should be developed in consultation with prescribed burn programs in other states. The department may also adopt rules to establish a decertification process for certified prescribed burn managers who commit a violation under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter. The department may, in its own discretion, develop an equivalency test for experienced prescribed burn managers.
(5) Certified prescribed burn managers may be issued burn permits with modified requirements in recognition of their training and skills. In such cases, normal smoke management and fire risk parameters apply.
Passed by the House March 6, 2018.
Passed by the Senate March 2, 2018.
Approved by the Governor March 22, 2018.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 26, 2018.
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