Bill Summary for Bill Number HB09-1199

Date: 02/18/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1199

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved a conceptual amendment to add "county noxiou Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment B ). The motion Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion Moved to refer House Bill 09-1199, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

02:47 PM -- House Bill 09-1199

Representative Scanlan, prime sponsor, described HB 09-1199 concerning increased efforts to address wildfire risk in connection with providing resources to the Colorado State Forest Service to augment its technical outreach capabilities and provide loans and grants for market-based and forest treatment solutions to reduce wildfire risk. Representative Scanlan invited Jeff Janke, Colorado State Forest Service, to the table to describe the bill. Mr. Janke and Representative Scanlan described the various provisions in the bill including how the bill would provide needed resources for the State Forest Service, the loan program in the bill, and the need for technical assistance. Representative Scanlan and Mr. Janke responded to questions from the committee.

02:55 PM

Mr. Jahnke described the importance of fire suppression and prescribed fire. The committee discussed various options for fire suppression and forest management through logging and prescribed fire. Mr. Jahnke provided an example of circumstances where prescribed fire is an important forest management tool in comparison to other management techniques. He also answered questions about how many acres are treated with prescribed fires.

03:02 PM

Mr. Jahnke responded to comments from the committee about management of the wildland urban interface and helping federal land management agencies conduct wildfire mitigation.

03:09 PM

Mr. Jahnke answered questions from the committee about forest management and the effect of prescribed burns on wildlife.

03:11 PM

Mr. Jahnke indicated that he supports amendments L.001 and L.002 that will be offered by the bill sponsor.

03:11 PM -- Jeff Berino, Lake Dillon Fire and Summit County Wildfire Council, spoke in favor of the bill. He explained that he particularly supports the provisions in the bill that provide local assistance regarding bio fuels and biomass because the area landfill if full. He also mentioned his support for the state funding match provisions, good neighbor authority, provisions that address replacing fire engines, and prescribed burns as a tool for forest management.

03:16 PM -- Casey Metz, Mile High Youth Corps, testified in favor of the bill. He described his field experience with the Youth Corps involving forest management. He discussed the benefits of hiring youth corps members. Representative Curry clarified with the bill sponsor that the bill identifies that whenever possible the Youth Corps should be used for forest management work.

03:22 PM -- Kelly Causey, Executive Director of Mile High Youth Corps, testified in favor of the bill. She described the mission of the Youth Corps and what the Youth Corps does. She stated that through the Youth Corps, the bill also promotes work force development. She responded to questions from the committee.

03:27 PM -- Gary Severson, Northwest Council of Governments and the Colorado Bark Beetle Cooperative, testified that both organizations support the bill. He stated that he especially supports the provisions in the bill that help with the implementation of community wildfire protection plans. He discussed the consensus among a variety of stakeholders regarding management of the wildland urban interface.

03:30 PM -- Heidi Van Huysen, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), gave an overview of the funding for the bill relating to severance tax dollars. She explained that the $2 million sought for the bill will be from severance tax dollars dependant on other legislation moving forward. She discussed funding cuts in the DNR to Tier 2 programs. She answered questions from the committee about why funding for the bill only extended one year. Representative Scanlan indicated that she would revisit the funding along the way and that mechanisms to transfer the funds will stay in place. The committee answered other questions about cuts to DNR programs.

03:37 PM -- Suzanne O'Neil, Colorado Wildlife Federation, testified in support of the bill. She described her participation in the grant review committee for the State Forest Service and concluded that additional technical assistance is needed in the State Forest Service.


BILL:	HB09-1199
TIME:	03:39:57 PM
MOVED:	Tipton
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst	Excused
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg	Excused
	Tipton
	Vigil
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1199
TIME:	03:40:26 PM
MOVED:	Solano
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment B ). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Fischer
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst	Excused
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg	Excused
	Tipton
	Vigil
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1199
TIME:	03:40:54 PM
MOVED:	Solano
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst	Excused
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg
	Tipton
	Vigil
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1199
TIME:	03:41:52 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to add "county noxious weed programs" to Amendment L.003 for each command after "C.R.S." The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Tipton
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst	Excused
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg
	Tipton
	Vigil
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1199
TIME:	03:43:37 PM
MOVED:	Fischer
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1199, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Representative Scanlan provided closing comments and acknowledged other General Assembly members who provided input to the bill. Representative Sonnenberg explained his position on the bill. The motion passed on an 11-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Solano
		VOTE
	Gardner C.	Yes
	Hullinghorst	Excused
	Labuda	Yes
	Looper	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Sonnenberg	No
	Tipton	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
	Fischer	Yes
	Curry	Yes

Not Final YES: 11 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS