Bill Summary for Bill Number HB09-1350

Date: 04/21/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1350

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment F). The motion	PASS

04:07 PM -- House Bill 09-1350

Representative Miklosi, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1350, concerning the "New Energy Improvements and Jobs Creation Act of 2009," introduced the bill. He explained that the bill creates energy improvement districts and authorizes the district to fund new energy improvements by issuing bonds and a voluntarily tax on real property in the district. Representative Miklosi explained that the bill clarifies that the energy improvement districts would not be subject to the provisions of Section 20, of Article X of the state constitution, also know as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). He discussed how energy improvement districts would be formed and talked about the qualifications, terms, and the appointment process of the board of directors of a district.

04:25 PM

Representative Miklosi addressed questions from the committee members and distributed a handout on the bill (Attachment D) and letters of support to the committee (Attachment E).

04:27 PM

Ann Livingston, Boulder County, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to stimulate local economies through the creation of new energy improvement districts. Ms. Livingston addressed questions from committee members concerning a loan program implemented by Boulder County to support energy efficiencies for individual homes.

04:41 PM

Representative Miklosi and Ms. Livingston addressed questions concerning the ability of an energy improvement district to issue a mill levy without approval by electors in the special district.

04:43 PM

Dee Wisor, Sherman & Howard L.L.C., testified in support of the bill and discussed the authority of energy improvement districts to establish a mill levy. Mr. Wisor addressed questions from committee members concerning property assessments and the status of bonds that would be issued by an energy improvement district.

04:53 PM

David Hiller, Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of the bill in improving renewable energy industries. Mr. Hiller addressed questions from committee members concerning new renewable energy technologies and how the bill will improve the renewable energy job sector.

04:59 PM

Ron Binz, Chairman, Colorado Public Utilities Commission, testified in support of the bill and explained that the bill would improve the renewable energy industry. He talked about the role of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in regulating renewable energy standards in the state. Mr. Binz addressed questions from the committee members concerning the need to improve energy efficiencies for individual homes and businesses.

05:09 PM

Beth Hart, Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the potential job benefits for the state by improving the renewable energy sector.

05:13 PM

Representative Miklosi addressed questions from the committee members concerning the ability and procedure for energy improvement districts to issue bonds.

05:14 PM

Kristen Thomson, Southwest Wind Power and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill, discussed the benefits of the bill, and specified how wind-powered products can improve energy efficiency on larger properties. Ms. Thomson addressed questions from the committee members concerning requirements and restrictions on large wind-powered products.

05:19 PM

John Lefebvre, Colorado County Treasurer's Association, addressed the committee to discuss concerns over potential administrative costs for county treasurers, but explained that these concerns were addressed by prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment F).

05:23 PM

Representative Miklosi and Mr. Lefebvre discussed prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment F).

05:23 PM

Ben Prochazka, Colorado Environmental Coalition, and Pam Kiely, Environment Colorado, testified in support of the bill and explained the benefits of the bill to Colorado's renewable energy economy.

05:30 PM

Representative Miklosi addressed questions from committee members concerning current bond market conditions and loans for energy efficiency improvements.

05:38 PM

Barbara Walker, Independent Bankers of Colorado, testified against the bill and explained that loans supplied by energy improvement districts should be limited to low-to-moderate income housing. Ms. Walker discussed the need for mandatory energy audits in the bill and talked about the need to combine more private-public funding for renewable energy projects. Ms. Walker addressed questions from committee members concerning loans by independent banks for home energy efficient improvements.

05:47 PM

Don Childears, Colorado Bankers Association, testified against the bill and explained that banks are providing more loans to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements. Mr. Childears discussed problems with public entities competing with private banks for loan funding. Mr. Childears addressed questions from the committee members.

05:55 PM

Representative Miklosi made closing comments on the bill and discussed prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment F).


BILL:	HB09-1350
TIME:	05:58:15 PM
MOVED:	Peniston
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment F). The motion passed on a 6-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Soper
		VOTE
	Acree	No
	Bradford	No
	Liston	Yes
	McKinley	Excused
	Middleton	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Tipton	No
	Vigil	Yes
	Waller	No
	Soper	Yes
	Peniston	Yes

Not Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

06:00 PM

Representative Peniston laid House Bill 09-1350 over to Thursday, April 23.