Date: 01/19/2010

Final
Forest Advisory Sunset

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to draft a bill to Sunset the Forest Advisor
Moved to remove the safety clause (section 7 lines		PASS
Pass Without Objection



11:24 AM -- Sunset Hearing for the Forest Advisory Board

11:28 AM -- Ellen Graham, DORA, explained that the Forestry Advisory Board (Board) has been inactive for most of its existence. In 2008, Governor Ritter created the Colorado Forest Health Advisory Council (Council), which has far broader stakeholder representation and more power to shape policy than the Board. Therefore, she explained that DORA recommends that the Board sunset. Representative Sonnenberg asked whether the new Council has a sunset date and whether the committee has oversight over the Council. Ms. Graham explained that the Council was created by executive order and there is not a sunset date. She further explained that this bill can only create or dissolve the Forest Advisory Board. She added that the new Council does report annually to the General Assembly. DORA's sunset review and the draft bill, based on DORA's recommendation, were distributed to committee members (Attachments D and E).

100119AttachD.pdf100119AttachE.pdf

11:34 AM -- Jan Hackett, Colorado State Forest Service, explained that the new Council was designed to be a simplified version of the Board without legislative attachment, but that it is still accountable to the Governor and the General Assembly. She indicated that the Colorado State Forest Service supports sunsetting the Advisory Board. Representative Pace indicated that he would like to see the committee have some oversight over the new Council. Ms. Hackett explained that the committee does receive an annual State of the Forest Health briefing and report which is from the Advisory Council.


BILL:Forest Advisory Sunset
TIME: 11:37:30 AM
MOVED:Looper
MOTION:Moved to draft a bill to Sunset the Forest Advisory Board. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Tipton
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Curry
Yes
Gardner C.
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
Looper
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Solano
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Pace
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Not Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Representative Baumgardner volunteered to be the prime sponsor. Representatives Looper, Hullinghorst, Pace, Vigil, Ryden, and Fischer asked to be added as co-sponsors.

11:39 AM

Tom Morris, Legislative Legal Services, explained that without a safety clause, the Board will sunset July 1. Representative Sonnenberg indicated that he does not believe this is a matter of public safety and would like to not include a safety clause.

BILL:Forest Advisory Sunset
TIME: 11:42:01 AM
MOVED:Looper
MOTION:Moved to remove the safety clause (section 7 lines 9-11) and to insert petition language. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Sonnenberg
VOTE
Baumgardner
Curry
Gardner C.
Hullinghorst
Looper
McKinley
Ryden
Solano
Sonnenberg
Tipton
Vigil
Pace
Fischer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

11:45 AM

The committee adjourned.