Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers the Disabled First Responder Lifetime Program. The program allows first responders with an occupational disability to obtain a lifetime fishing license, hunting license and parks pass at no cost.

The program excludes disabled EMS personnel.

The application for the program (https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/First-Responder.aspx) contains this section:

Applicant’s Statement of Service

If you have the documentation listed on the first checkbox under “Eligibility Proof” on the first page of this form, do NOT fill

out this affidavit.

I served as a peace officer as defined in CRS 16-2.5-101 OR

I served as a firefighter as defined in CRS 29-5-203 (1).

No other options are offered.

During these times of global pandemic the role of EMS providers as essential links in the public safety chain has become obvious. For those who have sacrificed their health and wellness to the point of being disabled to be excluded is an injustice.

We ask Governor Polis and Dan Prenzlow, Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife , to amend the program to rightfully include disabled EMS personnel.