Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (04/28/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	04/28/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:49 AM to 11:34 AM	Brophy	X
		Gibbs	X
Place:	SCR 353	Harvey	*
		Kester	X
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:
Conf 10-Parks and Outdoor Recreation Board HB10-1398		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate Referred to Appropriations

10:49 AM

Senator Hodge, Chair, called the meeting to order.

10:49 AM -- Confirmation of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Board

William G. Kane of Aspen, reappointed to the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation to serve as a representative of the Northern Region, described his skills and interest in serving on the Board (Attachment A). He also described recent changes in the management of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and efforts to address problems identified in a recent State Auditor's report.

10:54 AM

Lenna M. Watson of Grand Junction, reappointed to the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, reappointed to serve as a representative of the Western Region and as a Republican, described her skills and interest in serving on the board (Attachment A).

10:55 AM

The appointees responded to questions from the committee about potential changes to off highway vehicle (OHV) policies; use of OHV fees; and management responses to budget challenges facing the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

11:01 AM

Dean Winstanley, Director, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, described management responses to budget challenges facing the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

11:04 AM

Mr. Kane responded to questions about the opening of Staunton State Parks and the potential for a new park at the Nighthorse Reservoir near Durango.


BILL:	Conf 10-Parks and Outdoor Recreation Board
TIME:	11:06:38 AM
MOVED:	Whitehead
MOTION:	Moved to refer Lenna M. Watson of Grand Junction, and William G. Kane of Aspen, with a favorable recommendation, for reappointment to the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, for terms expiring June 30, 2014. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 7 to 0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Whitehead	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:07 AM -- House Bill 10-1398

Senator Whitehead, sponsor, described the provisions House Bill 10-1398 concerning the Species Conservation Trust Fund. The reengrossed bill appropriates money from both the Operation and Maintenance Account and the Capital Account of the Species Conservation Trust Fund (SCTF) for programs submitted by the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources. These programs are designed to conserve native species that are listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal law, are candidate species, or are likely to become candidate species as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill also transfers funding between the Capital and the Operation and Maintenance Accounts of the SCTF and transfers funding to these accounts from Tier 2 of the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund.

The following persons testified on the bill:

11:11 AM -- Doug Robotham, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, spoke in support of the bill and described the benefits of programs supported by the Species Conservation Trust Fund.

11:19 AM -- Tom Remmington, Director, Division of Wildlife, responded to questions from the committee about state programs to help protect the Gunnison Sage Grouse and to avoid its listing under the federal Endangered Species Act.

11:27 AM -- Diana Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.

11:28 AM -- Chris Piper, Denver Water Department, spoke in support of the bill and explained how the recovery programs enable Colorado water users to use their water rights without direct federal oversight.

11:29 AM -- Chris Treese, Colorado River Water Conservation District, spoke in support of the bill.

11:32 AM -- Jen Boulton, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Audubon Society, spoke in support of the bill.

11:33 AM

Senator Whitehead closed his remarks on the bill.


BILL:	HB10-1398
TIME:	11:33:38 AM
MOVED:	Whitehead
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1398 to the Committee on Appropriations, without amendment. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 7 to 0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Whitehead	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:34 AM

The meeting adjourned.