Bill Summary for Bill Number HB09-1129

Date: 03/19/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1129

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to refer HB 09-1129, to the Committee on App	PASS

02:50 PM -- House Bill 09-1129

Senator Romer described the provision of House Bill 09-1129 that authorizes a pilot program for the collection of precipitation from rooftops for nonpotable uses. The program may include up to 10 new residential or mixed-use developments. The purpose of the program is to determine how much precipitation returns to the natural stream system and develop a baseline set of data and methods to measure local precipitation patterns, native plant consumption, and ground water flow information. It will also evaluate precipitation harvesting designs and determine how to prevent injury to water rights. The Colorado Water Conservation Board will select pilot program participants based on guidelines that it develops. Program participants must submit an annual preliminary report to the CWCB and the State Engineer that summarizes findings regarding the program's goals. The pilot program is repealed on July 1, 2020.

02:56 PM

Senator Harvey, sponsor, described water supply challenges in his Senate district that includes the Highland Ranch community in Douglas County and other housing developments that rely on nonrenewable groundwater. He also explained that Douglas County Commissioners adopted a resolution of support for the bill (Attachment C).

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:59 PM -- Kevin Rein, Division of Water Resources, spoke in support of the bill and identified provisions of the bill that seek to protect other water rights from the operation of the pilot projects. He also described the process for selecting pilot projects.

03:02 PM -- Veva Deheza, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), explained that the bill authorizes the collection of fees from applicants for the pilot project that will be used to pay for the board's administrative expenses.

03:04 PM -- Doug Kemper, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1129
TIME:	03:08:47 PM
MOVED:	Harvey
MOTION:	Moved to refer HB 09-1129, to the Committee on Appropriation, without amendment. The motion passed 5-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gibbs	Excused
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Hodge	Excused
	Isgar	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:10 PM

The meeting adjourned.