In 2007, the United States Congress approved the Great Plains Wildland Fire Protection Compact. The Compact: (1) authorizes the state forester or officer holding the equivalent position who is responsible for forest fire control to consult with like officials of other member states and implement cooperation between the states in forest fire prevention and control; (2) authorizes member states to provide reciprocal aid in fighting forest fires among the compacting states if the state forest fire control agency of a member state requests aid; (3) provides that the fire fighting forces of any member state that renders outside aid at the request of another member state have, with certain exceptions, the same powers, duties, rights, privileges and immunities as comparable employees of the state to which they are rendering aid; (4) provides that a member state is not liable for any act or omission of its fire fighting forces made in connection with rendering outside aid to a member state; (5) provides that any liability that may arise is assumed by the member state that requests aid; (6) requires a member state that receives aid from another member state to reimburse the member state that provided the aid; (7) requires each member state to maintain adequate forest fire fighting forces and equipment to meet the demands for forest fire protection within its borders; and (8) provides that the Compact is effective and binding on each state ratifying it until the legislature or the governor of the state takes action to withdraw from the Compact. (Pub. L. No. 110-79) Section 2 of this bill ratifies the Compact. Section 4 of this bill requires the Governor to notify the member states of the Compact that Nevada has ratified the Compact. Section 5 of this bill makes the ratification of the Compact effective on the date on which the Governor of this State declares that this State has ratified the Compact and the State's entry has been approved.
In 1998, the United States Congress approved the Northwest Wildland Fire Protection Agreement. The Agreement: (1) provides that the role of the members is to coordinate the plans and work of the appropriate agencies and to coordinate the rendering of aid to members in fighting wildland fires; (2) provides that the members agree to render aid when any other member requests aid in controlling or preventing wildland fires; (3) requires the employees of any member providing aid to operate under the direction of the officers of the member to whom the aid is rendered; (4) provides that the employees of any members providing aid have the same privileges and immunities as comparable employees of the member to whom they are rendering aid; (5) provides that a member is not liable for any act or omission of its fire fighting forces made in connection with rendering aid to a member; (6) requires a member that receives aid from another member to reimburse the member that provided the aid; (7) requires each member to keep accurate books of account showing receipts and disbursements which are open to inspection of representatives of a member; (8) requires the members to hold an annual meeting to review the terms of the Agreement and any applicable operating plans; and (9) provides that the Agreement is effective on each member until such member takes action to withdraw from the Agreement. (Pub. L. No. 105-377) Section 3 of this bill ratifies the Agreement. Section 4 requires the Governor to notify the members of the Agreement that Nevada has ratified the Agreement. Section 5 makes the ratification of the Agreement effective on the date on which the Governor of this State declares that this State has ratified the Agreement and the State's entry has been approved.