The bill proposes an amendment to Chapter 2-12 of the General Laws, specifically titled "Forest Fires and Prevention," by adding a new section. This new section, designated as 2-12-22, mandates that the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) engage in coordination with local fire departments to evaluate state-managed properties for forest fire prevention and response capabilities. The assessment will include, but not be limited to, the evaluation of property egress, the capacity of fire roads to support emergency equipment, and the availability of water supplies on the property.
The bill emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the DEM and local fire departments to ensure that state properties are adequately prepared for forest fire situations. The act is set to be effective immediately upon passage. The legal language inserted into the current law is highlighted by the use of tags, while there are no tags, indicating that no existing legal language is being removed.