ORS 476.690: Wildfire Programs Advisory Council.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Defensible space” means a natural or human-made area in which material capable of supporting the spread of fire has been treated, cleared or modified to slow the rate and intensity of advancing wildfire and allow space for fire suppression operations to occur. (b) “Wildland-urban interface” has the meaning given that term in ORS 477.015. (2) There is established a Wildfire Programs Advisory Council to advise and assist the State Wildfire Programs Director by: (a) Closely monitoring implementation of activities related to wildfire prevention and response, including receiving and evaluating agency reports related to wildfire prevention and response. (b) Providing advice on potential changes to the activities in order to fulfill the goal of dramatically reducing wildfire risk in this state and ensuring that regional defensible space, building codes and land use applications are appropriate. (c) Strengthening intergovernmental and multiparty collaboration and enhancing collaboration between governments and stakeholders on an ongoing basis. (d) Developing strategies to enhance collaboration among governmental bodies and the general public. (e) Reviewing Department of Land Conservation and Development findings and recommendations in the report required by section 11, chapter 592, Oregon Laws 2021, and making additional recommendations related to potential updates to the statewide land use planning program, local comprehensive plans and zoning codes to incorporate wildfire hazard maps and minimize wildfire hazards to people, public and private property, businesses, infrastructure and natural resources. (3) The council is not a decision-making body but instead is established to provide advice, assistance, perspective, ideas and recommendations to the State Wildfire Programs Director. (4) The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly appoint 21 members to the council as follows: (a) One member who represents county government. (b) One member who is a land use planning director of a county that is wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (c) One member who represents city government. (d) One member who is a land use planning director of a city that is wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (e) One member who represents fire chiefs and has experience with managing, fighting or preventing fire within the wildland-urban interface. (f) One member who represents fire marshals and has experience with community risk reduction and prevention of structural fire within the wildland-urban interface. (g) One member who represents firefighters and has experience with managing, fighting or preventing fire within the wildland-urban interface. (h) One member who represents rural residential property owners whose property is wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (i) One member who represents farming property owners whose property is wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (j) One member who represents ranching property owners whose property is wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (k) One member who represents forestland owners whose property is wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (L) One member who represents federally recognized Indian tribes with land wholly or partially within the wildland-urban interface. (m) One member who represents a utility company. (n) One member who represents environmental interests. (o) One member who represents forest resiliency interests. (p) One member who represents state or regional land use planning organizations. (q) One member who represents land and housing development interests or real estate industry interests. (r) One member who represents public health professionals. (s) One member who represents the environmental justice community. (t) One member who represents the structural fire service and who has experience with managing, fighting or preventing wildfire within the wildland-urban interface. (u) One member who represents the insurance industry. (5) The council shall be geographically diverse, with representatives from across this state. (6) The presiding officers shall provide public notice of an opportunity for interested parties to submit names of interest for appointment to the council. (7) At least seven days before appointing a member, the presiding officers shall consult in good faith with the minority leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives on the appointment. (8) The term of service for each member is four years. (9) The members are eligible for reappointment. (10) The council shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson to serve for one-year terms. (11) The members shall serve on the council as volunteers and are not entitled to reimbursement for expenses. (12) The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Department of the State Fire Marshal and State Forestry Department shall each provide 15 percent of the time of a full-time equivalent employee to: (a) Cooperatively staff the council. (b) Attend council meetings as informational resources. (c) Assist with drafting reports at the request of the council. (d) Support the work of the State Wildfire Programs Director. (13) The Oregon State University Extension Service shall designate a person to serve as staff for the council. (14) Each October the council shall submit a report to the Governor and appropriate committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly that describes progress on implementing program activities related to defensible space, building codes, land use and community emergency preparedness and that recommends improvements. [2021 c.592 §36; 2023 c.611 §8; 2025 c.590 §5]