Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy (04/30/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Date:	04/30/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:41 AM to 01:01 PM	Cadman	X
		Hodge	X
Place:	SCR 353	Kester	*
		Lundberg	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Newell	*
	Senator Schwartz	Foster	X
		Schwartz	X
This Report was prepared by
	David Beaujon
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1327 HB09-1126 HB09-1362		Postponed Indefinitely Referred to Appropriations Laid Over

11:42 AM -- House Bill 09-1327 -

Senator Tochtrop closed her remarks on the bill. There was no testimony at this meeting. Testimony on House Bill 09-1327 was taken on April 27. Several amendments to the bill were considered and none were adopted. The bill was laid over for action only. The reengrossed House Bill 09-1327 modifies the method of distributing property tax revenue attributable to urban renewal authorities (URAs) that arise from the use of tax increment financing (TIF) mechanisms to support urban renewal projects.

11:44 AM

Senator Lundberg described the provisions Amendment L. 019 (Attachment A).


BILL:	HB09-1327
TIME:	11:44:13 AM
MOVED:	Lundberg
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L. 019. The motion passed 5-2.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	No
	Schwartz	No

Not Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB09-1327
TIME:	11:49:11 AM
MOVED:	Cadman
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1327 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion failed on a vote of 1-6.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	No
	Hodge	No
	Kester	No
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	No
	Foster	No
	Schwartz	No
Not Final YES: 1 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB09-1327
TIME:	11:50:41 AM
MOVED:	Cadman
MOTION:	Moved to postpone indefinitely House Bill 09-1327. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Lundberg	No
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:52 AM -- House Bill 09-1126

Senator Shaffer, sponsor, described the provisions House Bill 09-1126. For FY 2009-10 through FY 2013-14, the reengrossed bill makes all sales, storage and use of components used in solar thermal systems exempt from the state sales and use tax. The bill specifies various components for solar thermal systems that are affected, and defines the types of systems that are eligible for the tax exemption. The bill allows local governments to provide the same financial incentives for solar thermal installations as are now be provided for solar electric installations.

The following persons testified on the bill:

11:55 AM -- James Lowe, Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), spoke in support of the bill and described solar thermal technologies including concentrated solar thermal generation (Attachment B). He also responded to questions from the committee about tax credits and other incentives for solar electric facilities.

12:05 PM -- Keith Hay, Environment Colorado, spoke in support of the bill and described the benefits of solar thermal technology.

12:08 PM

Senator Shaffer closed his remarks on the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1126
TIME:	12:08:17 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1126 to the Committee on Appropriations, without amendment. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	No
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:13 PM -- House Bill 09-1362

Senator Boyd, sponsor, described the provisions of House Bill 09-1362. The reengrossed bill allows local governments to establish either sales or property tax-funded community college service area districts, with voter approval. The bill also allows counties to establish districts to help fund state colleges. Upon the passage of a resolution by the state board for a community or state college, the bill authorizes the governing body of at least 2 counties or municipalities, or any combination of at least 2 local governments, to form such a district and seek voter approval for a tax increase. She also distributed Amendment L. 007 (Attachment C).

The following persons testified on the bill:

12:16 PM -- Barbara McDonnell, Colorado Community College System, spoke in support of the bill. She also responded to questions from the committee about entities that are eligible to receive the tax moneys and she addressed other issues.

12:25 PM

Senator Boyd and Ms. McDonnell responded to questions from the committee.

12:37 PM

Bob Lackner, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee about potential amendments to Amendment L. 007 and the reengrossed bill.

12:44 PM -- Jeremy Hueth, University of Colorado Associate University Counsel, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

12:47 PM -- Carrie Besnette, Metropolitan State College of Denver, spoke in support of the bill and described the institutions that may participate in a seven county metropolitan district.

12:52 PM -- Sandra K. Owens, General Counsel for Aims Community College, spoke in support of the bill.

12:55 PM

Senator Boyd closed her remarks on the bill and the committee discussed potential amendments to the bill. The bill was laid over unamended. The committee may meet upon recess or adjournment on Friday, May 1, 2009 to act on the bill.

01:01 PM

The meeting adjourned.