Section 24-33.5-1239 - Wildfire resilient homes grant program - fund - rules - report - definitions - repeal(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Fund" means the wildfire resilient homes grant program cash fund created in subsection (4)(a) of this section.(b) "Homeowner" means a person who owns property on which there is a house and on which there may also be other nonresidential structures that is in the state and located in an area that is susceptible to risk of wildfires.(c) "Program" means the wildfire resilient homes grant program created in subsection (2)(a) of this section.(2)(a) There is hereby created within the division the wildfire resilient homes grant program to provide grants to homeowners for the purpose of retrofitting or otherwise improving a house or other existing nonresidential structures on a homeowner's property with best practice techniques for structure hardening in order to make them more resilient to wildfire risk. To implement the program, the division may use federal funds that are or become available to the division for the same purposes as the purposes of the program.(b) To receive a grant, a homeowner must submit an application to the division in a form and manner prescribed by the division.(c) In awarding grants pursuant to the program, the division shall consider the location of the homeowner's property, whether the property is a primary residence of the homeowner, the income or assets from all sources of the homeowner, the type of improvement proposed by the homeowner, and any other criteria established by the division pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. The division may require applicants to provide information on the applicant's income, and the division may prioritize income levels of applicants in awarding grants.(d) A homeowner who receives a grant pursuant to this subsection (2) shall not use the money for any purpose that is not authorized by this section or by any rules promulgated by the director pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. Upon completion of the retrofit or improvements for which the grant was awarded, a homeowner shall submit to the division a certification of costs and any other documentation the division may require.(3) The director may adopt rules for the implementation and administration of the program.(4)(a) The wildfire resilient homes grant program cash fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money appropriated or transferred to the fund by the general assembly, all private and public money received through gifts, grants, or donations that are transmitted to the state treasurer and credited to the fund, and money transferred to the fund pursuant to subsection (5) of this section. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.(b) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the division may expend money from the fund for the following purposes:(I) To award grants for the program; or(II) To promote strategies and technologies that increase resiliency against wildfires for a house or other nonresidential structures on a property, including for new builds, new construction, or rebuilds, through outreach to homeowners and by preparing educational materials for homeowners.(5)(a) On August 15, 2023, the state treasurer shall transfer one hundred thousand dollars from the general fund to the fund.(b) This subsection (5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2024.(6) The division shall submit an annual report on the expenditures from the fund to the wildfire matters review committee created in section 2-3-1602. The report must include information on the number of grants made, outreach the division undertakes to educate homeowners on best practices for structure hardening, details on the retrofits or improvements made by grant recipients, and any federal funds the division used in connection with implementation of the program. Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report required in this subsection (6) continues for the duration of the program.Added by 2023 Ch. 175,§ 2, eff. 8/7/2023.2023 Ch. 175, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).