Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (02/04/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	02/04/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:38 PM to 02:52 PM	Brophy	E
		Gibbs	X
Place:	SCR 353	Harvey	*
		Kester	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Schwartz	X
	Senator Hodge	Whitehead	*
		Hodge	X
This Report was prepared by
	David Beaujon
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Conf 10-Agriculture Development Authority SB10-072 SB10-025		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

01:38 PM -- Agriculture Development Authority

Randall A. Wilks of Burlington, a Democrat, explained that he was appointed to serve as a member of the Colorado Agriculture Development Authority Board with knowledge of agricultural activity in the state, and to represent the various agriculture operations and geographical regions of the state (Attachment A). He also explained why he is interested in serving on the authority and described the Beginning Farmer Loan program that is administered by the authority (Attachment B).


BILL:	Agriculture Development Authority
TIME:	01:42:38 PM
MOVED:	Gibbs
MOTION:	Moved to favorably refer to the full Senate for a term expiring June 30, 2013, Randall A. Wilks of Burlington, a Democrat, appointed to serve as a member of the Colorado Agriculture Development Authority Board with knowledge of agricultural activity in the state, and to represent the various agriculture operations and geographical regions of the state. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 5 to 0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Excused
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Whitehead	Excused
	Hodge	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:43 PM -- Senate Bill 10-072

Senator Schwartz, Prime Sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 10-072 that creates the Colorado Seed Potato Act which requires potato growers who plant 1 or more acres of potatoes to use certified seed potatoes, with some exceptions (Attachment C). The Commissioner of Agriculture is responsible for administration and enforcement of the act and can set fees, conduct inspections, issue subpoenas, impose civil penalties, and sue in court. Growers are required to maintain certain records, which may be reviewed by an independent auditor on a random basis. Colorado State University is the certifying authority for Colorado grown seed potatoes. Seed potatoes grown outside of Colorado must be certified by the certifying authority of the state, territory, or country of origin. The bill creates the commissioner-appointed 9-member Seed Potato Advisory Committee, and specifies their duties.

The following persons testified on the bill:

01:47 PM -- Kent Sather, Colorado State University (CSU), described the voluntary potato seed certification program that he administers for CSU and described the market for certified seed potatoes. He also described Colorado State University's seed potato certification program.

01:53 PM -- Jim Ehrlich, Colorado Potato Administration Committee, spoke in support of the bill and described the persons and entities involved in the drafting of Senate Bill 10-072 (Attachment D). He also described the potential economic benefits of a seed potato certification program.

02:00 PM -- Bob Mattive, Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association, spoke in support of the bill and described Colorado's seed potato market (Attachment E). He also identified the potential economic benefits of a seed potato certification program.

02:03 PM -- Roger Mix, Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association, National Potato Council, spoke in support of the bill and identified the potential economic benefits of a seed potato certification program including additional exports of seed potatoes. He also responded to questions from the committee about why potato growers did not request the seed potato certification legislation sooner.

02:08 PM -- Monty Smith, Three S Ranch, Inc., spoke in support of the bill and identified the potential economic benefits of a seed potato certification program. He also explained why potato growers did not request the seed potato certification legislation sooner.

02:11 PM -- Mitch Yergert, Colorado Department of Agriculture, explained that the department would implement the potato certification program if the bill is enacted. He also described the bill's fiscal impact on the Department of Agriculture.

LeRoy J. Salazar submitted written testimony in support of the bill (Attachment F):

02:14 PM

Senator Schwartz close her remarks on the bill.


BILL:	SB10-072
TIME:	02:14:59 PM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-072, to the Committee on Appropriations, without amendment. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 6 to 0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Excused
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Whitehead	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:16 PM -- Senate Bill 10-025

Senator Whitehead, Prime Sponsor, described the provision of Senate Bill 10-025 that extends the Water Efficiency Grant Program that is administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board until July 1, 2020, and authorizes up to $550,000 of annual appropriations from the program cash fund. The program is currently scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2012. The bill authorizes annual transfers of $550,000 for FY 2012-13 through FY 2019-20 from the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund to the program cash fund. This bill was recommended by the interim Water Resources Review Committee.

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:19 PM -- Alex Davis, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, spoke in support of the bill and described the growing demand for water in Colorado and the need to increase water use efficiency.

02:23 PM -- Veva Deheza, Colorado Water Conservation Board, described her agency's water efficiency grant review process and she explained that the program would receive Tier 2 of the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund money.

02:25 PM -- Tracy Bouvette, Great Western Institute, spoke in support of the bill and described methods for increasing water use efficiency, such as the installation of low-flow toilets and shower heads. He also described the economic benefits of the Water Efficiency Grant Program including employment for persons who install water savings devices.

02:30 PM -- Jeff Woodward, Colorado Waterwise, spoke in support of the bill and described a grant his organization received from the Water Efficiency Grant Fund to develop a manual that identifies water efficiency best management practices.

02:33 PM -- Kim Frick, Clear Water Solutions, Colorado Water Wise Council, spoke in support of the bill and described grants her organization received from the Water Efficiency Grant Fund.

02:36 PM -- Kevin Bommer, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in support of the bill.

02:42 PM -- Doug Kemper, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee about efforts to promote water use efficiency.

02:44 PM -- Beck Long, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Wester Resource Advocates, spoke in support of the bill and identified the economic benefits of water use efficiency compared with the development of new water resources.

02:46 PM -- Brenda, O'Brien, Green Industries of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill and described grant moneys that her organization received from the Water Efficiency Grant Program to develop best management practices for outdoor water use.

02:50 PM

Senator Whitehead closed his remarks on the bill.


BILL:	SB10-025
TIME:	02:51:22 PM
MOVED:	Whitehead
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-025 to the Committee on Appropriations, without amendment. The motion passed on roll call vote of 6 to 0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Excused
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Whitehead	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:52 PM

The meeting adjourned.