§ 33-10-115. Use of Parks and Recreational Areas by Nonprofit Backcountry Search and Rescue Organizations – Definitions – Rules

1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue State Parks Usage Act”.
2. As used in this section:
   1. “Backcountry search and rescue activities” means official drills, exercises, live incidents, or other such activities that provide instruction to backcountry search and rescue personnel, and that are conducted at any time of the day, including, without limitation, overnight or over several days and nights.
   2. “Park, recreation area, or facility” means:
      1. A state park;
      2. A state recreation area; or
      3. A state-owned facility that is open to the public and related to or adjoining a state park or a state recreation area.
   3. “Public or nonprofit backcountry search and rescue organization” means a not-for-profit entity that performs backcountry search and rescue, disaster relief, or national defense missions in Colorado. The term includes, without limitation, the Colorado civil air patrol, governmental search and rescue organizations, and the Colorado search and rescue association.
3. A public or nonprofit backcountry search and rescue organization shall be exempt from all park fees when the organization is using a park, recreation area, or facility to conduct backcountry search and rescue activities.
4. The commission may promulgate rules as are reasonably necessary to implement this section.

Source: L. 2009: Entire section added, (SB 09-182), ch. 148, p. 616, § 2, effective April 20. L. 2012: (4) amended, (HB 12-1317), ch. 248, p. 1219, § 38, effective June 4. L. 2021: Entire section amended, (SB 21-245), ch. 358, p. 2338, § 6, effective June 27.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 21-245, see section 1 of chapter 358, Session Laws of Colorado 2021.