Bill Summary for Bill Number SB10-139

Date: 04/07/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB10-139

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-139 to the Committee	PASS

02:23 PM -- Senate Bill 10-139

Representative Sonnenberg, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 139. This bill creates a new income tax return checkoff to collect donations for the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance, a registered Colorado nonprofit organization. For income tax years 2010 through 2012, the checkoff would be added to the Colorado individual income tax form as a voluntary contribution. After subtracting the Department of Revenue's costs to administer contributions, the remaining moneys would be transferred to the Unwanted Horse Alliance.

02:31 PM

Troy Bratton, Legislative Legal Services, explained that typically tax checkoff bills do not specify a percentage of funding to be used for administrative costs in response to questions from the committee.

02:32 PM -- Chris Whitney, Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance, spoke in support of the bill and described the mission of his organization. He clarified what is meant by the term "unwanted horse"and explained some of the options for unwanted horses. He explained that there are more unwanted horses than can be accommodated with existing resources. He discussed some of the studies his organization has conducted and listed a number of other groups that support the bill. He answered questions from the committee concerning the organization's annual budget, euthinasia of horses, and slaughter.

02:49 PM -- Dr. Bill Fredregill, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, spoke in support of the bill. He explained that euthanasia of unwanted horses is increasing. He answered questions from the committee concerning the costs associated with euthanization and other means of disposing of horses. He distributed a written copy of his testimony to the committee (Attachment B).


BILL:	SB10-139
TIME:	02:59:38 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-139 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-1.
SECONDED:	Pace
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Curry	Yes
	Gardner C.	Yes
	Hullinghorst	Excused
	Looper	Yes
	McKinley	No
	Ryden	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Tipton	Excused
	Vigil	Excused
	Pace	Yes
	Fischer	Yes

Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS