Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:04/05/2010
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:40 PM to 01:51 PM
Brophy
X
Gibbs
X
Place:SCR 356
Harvey
E
Kester
E
This Meeting was called to order by
Schwartz
X
Senator Hodge
Whitehead
X
Hodge
X
This Report was prepared by
David Beaujon
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Department of Agriculture
Department of Natural Resources		Briefing only
Briefing only
01:40 PM

Senator Hodge called the meeting to order.

01:40 PM -- Department of Agriculture

Senator White, member of the Joint Budget Committee, described the Colorado Department of Agriculture FY 2010-11 budget in the House Bill 10-1376, called the Long Appropriations Bill. He identified common elements of each department's budget including indirect cost assessments that pay for centrally provided services, such as payroll and accounting. The bill consolidates information technology staff that were previously allocated to department budgets to the Governor's Office budget. It also adds $530,000 including $164,000 General Fund moneys, to restore FY 2009-10 furlough reductions. This increase is offset by increased employee contributions to the Public Employees' Retirement Association. The bill also refinances $452,000 General Fund in the Agricultural Markets Division with Agriculture Management Fund dollars. Additional information about the department's budget is provided in the Long Bill Narrative that is available on the Joint Budget Committee's website at /www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/jbc/jbcstaffdocs (see pages 38 through 45).

01:43 PM -- Department of Natural Resources

Senator White, member of the Joint Budget Committee, described the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Budget for FY 2010-11 in House Bill 10-1376, called the Long Appropriation Bill. He explained that the bill provides $10.3 million cash and federal funds to reflect a transfer of funding from the capital budget to the operating budgets of State Parks and the Division of Wildlife as a budget reorganization. It also provides $3.2 million total funds to restore a FY 2009-10 furlough and reduces $2.2 million, including $403,000 General Fund, for a 2.5 percent reduction to the State's contribution to the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) pursuant to S.B. 10-146. He also explained that funding for the Species Conservation Trust Fund will occur in separate bill. Additional information about the department's budget is provided in the Long Bill Narrative that is available on the Joint Budget Committee's website at /www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/jbc/jbcstaffdocs (see pages 207 through 218).





01:47 PM

Senator White responded to questions from the committee about funding for the Division of Park and Outdoor Recreation from severance tax revenue. He also explained that the Long Bill authorizes four additional FTE for the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to assist with oil and gas permitting activities.

01:51 PM

The meeting adjourned.