Date: 03/10/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-242

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion
Refer Senate Bill 09-242, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



02:57 PM -- Senate Bill 09-242

Senator Isgar, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-242. The bill reduces the allowable appropriation to cover direct and indirect costs of Energy Council members from $56,000 to $50,000. The bill appropriates $50,000 to the legislative branch from the Oil and Gas Environmental Response Fund for FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11 for these costs. The bill also specifies how many members can be appointed to the council and other guidelines for membership.

Senator Isgar explained that it has been proposed to eliminate the legislative appropriation for the Energy Council and he proposed the bill because he would like to attempt to find the funding. The bill, he stated, would allow money to come from the Oil and Gas Environmental Response Fund. He also provided background information about the Energy Council, Colorado's participation in the council, and membership guidelines in the proposed legislation. Senator Isgar shared information from the Energy Council's quarterly meetings. He stated it is important for Colorado to participate in this council because of the state's role as a major energy producing state. Senator Isgar also shared his thoughts about nonpartisanship.


03:09 PM

Senator Isgar responded to questions from the committee about the Energy Council and money in the Oil and Gas Environmental Response Fund. Discussion ensued about the legislative branch's budget and Colorado's membership in other committees and councils. Senator Isgar also responded to questions about whether funding could be taken from Legislative Council's budget to fund this cost.

The following person testified on the bill:

03:14 PM -- Ms. Lisa Hough, representing BP America, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hough provided background information about the Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research (CLEER), an organization that assists the Energy Council, and issues the Energy Council has covered in its meetings. She urged the committee to support continued participation in the council.

Senator Isgar also provided information about his trip to China with other Energy Council members.


03:23 PM

Senator Brophy provided information about how much money would be available in the fund for this fiscal year. He said that he obtained this information from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He also discussed property values, the mill levy, and funding issues.

03:24 PM -- Ms. Heidi Van Huysen, representing DNR, provided background information about the mill levy rate and the price of natural gas.


03:26 PM

Discussion ensued about whether to refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole or the Committee on Appropriations. Senator Isgar distributed copies of Amendment L.001 (Attachment C).

09SenateFin0310AttachC.pdf
BILL:SB09-242
TIME: 03:32 PM
MOVED:Isgar
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-242, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 6-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Brophy
No
Heath
Yes
Isgar
Yes
King K.
Yes
Scheffel
Yes
Hudak
Yes
Sandoval
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

BILL:SB09-242
TIME: 03:33:32 PM
MOVED:Isgar
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection
SECONDED:
VOTE
Brophy
Heath
Isgar
King K.
Scheffel
Hudak
Sandoval
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



03:34 PM

The committee recessed.