One of CSAR’s top focuses during the past decade has been ensuring the sustainability of the BSAR system in Colorado in the face of constantly rising call volume and a changing volunteer society. We care about the safety of the professional volunteer responders and we look for ways to support them so they are able to respond when needed. Our state, with its trillion-dollar outdoor recreation economy, sees increasing numbers of residents and visitors recreating in the backcountry every year. Some teams have challenges with recruiting or retaining volunteers due to the remoteness of the area or the cost of living in a mountain town, and other teams have challenges finding volunteers to handle the administrative load of the team. Most BSAR teams have to fundraise to support their operations, and volunteer responders often pay out of pocket for personal gear, training, and for transportation costs. CSAR works toward lessening these burdens for our members.
In 2019, CSAR decided to tackle the problem by seeking a more significant means of statewide funding to help BSAR teams. CSAR first approached sheriffs and then county commissioners for sustainable funding solutions, but we were directed to the state. Colorado state agencies and legislators partnered with CSAR to discuss the problem and together, they brainstormed possible solutions. These discussions eventually led to the passing of SB21-247, the bill that created the Keep Colorado Wild (KCW) pass. Colorado residents now may purchase a heavily discounted state parks pass with their vehicle registration every year, and the proceeds go to fund state parks, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and the BSAR Fund. These funds are distributed through grants to Colorado county sheriffs to support the BSAR organizations and volunteer responders in their counties.
Between 2020 and 2022, CSAR also helped draft and advocated for SB21-245 and HB22-168, which were passed by the Colorado state legislature and signed into law by Governor Polis. SB21-245 funded a study of Colorado’s BSAR system, mandated mental health resources for volunteers, and defined “backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) in statute. HB22-168 appropriated bridge funding of one million dollars for BSAR until the KCW funding became available, and brought BSAR volunteers on par with firefighter and other EMS volunteers in terms of immunity from civil litigation. It provides protection from civil lawsuits to nonprofit BSAR teams, and higher education benefits for the dependents of BSAR volunteers who are killed or disabled in the line of duty.
