Date: 02/04/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1071

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.005. The motion passed without
Refer House Bill 09-1071, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



05:39 PM -- House Bill 09-1071 - Concerning the Search and Rescue Fund

Representative Gagliardi, prime sponsor, explained the provisions in the bill. She continued saying that under current law, the Search and Rescue Fund provides reimbursements to public entities for the direct costs related to the search and rescue of people engaged in wilderness activities. Such costs are typically incurred by counties. This bill expands the allowable reasons for missions to include searches for adults or juveniles who have a disability. The measure also allows both cities and counties to seek reimbursement for mission expenses, and to request funds for equipment and training from any balance remaining in the fund annually. Finally, the bill increases the surcharge on hunting and fishing licenses, and on off-highway vehicle licenses, from $0.25 to $1.00.

The following persons testified:

05:50 PM -- Mr. Justin Smith, County Sheriffs Association, testified in support of the bill. He indicated that many of these operations occur in very remote parts of the state. He closed by urging the committee to support the bill.

05:56 PM -- Mr. Howard Paul, Colorado Search and Rescue Board and the Alpine Rescue Team, testified in support of the bill. He said that the fund was initially created to aid search and rescue teams around the state. The fund was initially funded with a 25-cent fee on hunting licenses. Since then, it was expanded to many outdoor licenses. Mr. Paul noted that many of the expenses of search and rescue teams are paid for by members of teams and these expenses are not always reimbursed. Mr. Paul closed by urging the committee to support the legislation.

06:06 PM -- Ms. Jocelyn Atadero, representing her brother Jaryd Atadero, testified in favor of House Bill 09-1071. Ms. Atadero discussed her brother, who went missing in the mountains in 1999, and stressed the importance of raising search and rescue fees under the bill.

06:09 PM -- Mr. Alan Atadero, representing his son Jaryd Atadero, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Atadero explained how additional resources for search and rescue operations may help to save lives, and addressed the issue of the burden of search and rescue fees falling on sportsmen. Mr. Atadero also discussed future efforts to increase funding for search and rescue operations and improve safety programs. Mr. Atadero provided advice regarding how to increase safety when taking children into the wilderness.


06:13 PM

The bill was placed on the table for action and amendment L.005 (Attachment G) was adopted. (After the amendment was adopted, the committee engaged in a brief discussion and found that the amendment was incorporated into the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee Report dated February 3, 2009. Thus, after the following motion was made, the House Finance Committee report reflects that the committee referred House Bill 09-1071 to the Committee On Appropriations without amendments.)

09HouseFin0204AttachG.pdf
BILL:HB09-1071
TIME: 06:13:50 PM
MOVED:Frangas
MOTION:Moved amendment L.005. The motion passed without objection by those members present.

After the amendment was adopted, the committee engaged in a brief discussion and found that the amendment was already incorporated into the State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee Report dated February 3, 2009. Thus, although the following motion was made, the House Finance Committee report reflects that the committee referred House Bill 09-1071 to the Committee On Appropriations without amendments.
SECONDED:Summers
VOTE
Apuan
Benefield
Gerou
Kefalas
Kerr A.
Lambert
Roberts
Summers
Swalm
Frangas
Judd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1071
TIME: 06:17:11 PM
MOVED:Frangas
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1071, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0 vote.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Apuan
Yes
Benefield
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Summers
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Judd
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



06:18 PM

Adjourn.