(SB 189)
Fire suppression agreements provisions revised.
Section
1.
That
§
41-20-4
be amended to read as follows:
41-20-4.
The state wildland fire coordinator, under the direction of the Department of
Agriculture, shall take authorized action to prevent, suppress, and extinguish forest fires on all state
and privately owned lands and
on other lands while acting pursuant to a cooperative fire
suppression agreement. The coordinator shall
direct and aid the efforts of all fire suppression
forces involved in the fires. The coordinator may bring an action in circuit court against the
responsible person to obtain reimbursement for reasonable fire suppression and extinguishment
costs.
Section
2.
That
§
41-20-5
be amended to read as follows:
41-20-5.
There is hereby established a fund in the state treasury to be known as the state fire
suppression special revenue fund which is hereby appropriated for the payment of costs incurred
by the state wildland fire coordinator in suppressing forest fires as authorized by § 41-20-4
and for
the payment of costs incurred by the secretary of agriculture in hiring a fire suppression force to
assist any other fire suppression agency, regardless of whether the fire being suppressed is within
the territorial jurisdiction of the State of South Dakota. The fire suppression agency shall either
execute or have an existing cooperative fire suppression agreement with the South Dakota
Department of Agriculture
. There has been appropriated fifty thousand dollars for the fund.