HB 49

02-06 13:11  4th Sub. (Green) H.B. 49
  Derrin R. Owens proposes the following substitute bill:
1Law Enforcement Salary Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox
  Senate Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill addresses the salary range and proposed pay progression for law enforcement
6   officers within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
7   Highlighted Provisions:
8This bill:
9▸ to the extent appropriations are made for this purpose, requires the executive director of
10   the Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Division of Human
11   Resource Management, to increase the salary range and proposed pay progression for
12   DNR law enforcement officers; and
13▸ makes technical changes.
14   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15This bill appropriates $2,839,300 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027, all
16   of which is from the General Fund.
17   Other Special Clauses:
18None
  4th Sub. H.B. 49
19   Utah Code Sections Affected:
20   AMENDS:
2163A-17-110, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 154
22
23   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24Section 1. Section 63A-17-110 is amended to read:
2563A-17-110 . State pay plans for DNR law enforcement officers and wildland
26   firefighters.
27   (1) As used in this section:
28(a) "Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands" means the division created in Section
2965A-1-4 within the Department of Natural Resources.
 4th Sub. (Green) H.B. 49  02-06 13:11
30(b) "Division of Law Enforcement" means the division created in Section 79-2-702
31within the Department of Natural Resources.
32(c) "DNR law enforcement officer" means an employee of the Department of Natural
33Resources who is designated as a law enforcement officer by law.
34(d) "Wildland firefighter" means an employee of the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State
35Lands who is:
36(i) trained in firefighter techniques; and
37(ii) assigned to a position of hazardous duty.
38   (2) The director shall:
39(a) coordinate directly with the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands and the
40Division of Law Enforcement to establish specialized state pay plans for DNR law
41enforcement officers and wildland firefighters that:
42(i) [meets] meet the requirements of Section 63A-17-307;
43(ii) [distinguishes] subject to Subsection (3), establish the salary range and proposed
44pay progression for each DNR [peace] law enforcement officer;
45(iii) [distinguishes] establish the salary range for each wildland firefighter
46classification;
47(iv) [includes] include for each DNR law enforcement officer and wildland firefighter
48classification:
49(A) the minimum qualifications; and
50(B) any training requirements; and
51(v) [provides] provide standards for:
52(A) performance evaluation; and
53(B) promotion; and
54(b) include, in the plan described in Subsection 63A-17-307(5), recommendations on
55funding and salary increases for DNR law enforcement officers and wildland
56firefighters.
57   (3) To the extent that the Legislature appropriates funds for this purpose, the executive
58director of the Department of Natural Resources shall, in cooperation with the Division
59of Human Resource Management, increase the salary range and proposed pay
60progression for DNR law enforcement officers to be more consistent with the salary
61range and pay progression of other state law enforcement officers.
62Section 2. FY 2027 Appropriations.
63The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
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 02-06 13:11  4th Sub. (Green) H.B. 49
64   2026, and ending June 30, 2027. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
65   fiscal year 2027.
66Subsection 2(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
67Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
68   Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
69   the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
70   ITEM 1      To Department of Natural Resources - Law Enforcement
71From General Fund  2,839,300
72Schedule of Programs:
73Law Enforcement Administration  2,839,300
74The Legislature intends that the Department of
75Natural Resources use the money appropriated under
76ITEM 1 for the purpose described in Subsection
7763A-17-110(3).
78Section 3. Effective Date.
79   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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