Date: 02/27/2012
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1317
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES
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02:53 PM -- House Bill 12-1317
Representative Sonnenberg, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1317. The bill replaces the Parks and Wildlife Board in the Department of Natural Resources with the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The commission is comprised of 11 voting members to be appointed by the Governor and two nonvoting ex officio members — the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources and the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture. The bill specifies that the appointed members must represent various geographical regions in the state and certain areas of interest or knowledge. Initial term lengths are staggered to reduce the impact to the board that results from member turnover. The commission is required to meet at least monthly and must submit a five-year strategic plan by December 31, 2013. For every year that is included in the strategic plan, the commission is required to submit an annual report to the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee. Representative Sonnenberg requested that after testimony, the bill be laid over to consider amendments. Representative Sonnenberg answered questions from the committee concerning the membership of the commission.
The following individuals testified on the bill
03:16 PM -- Dick Ray, Colorado Outfitters Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and spoke about the need for outfitters to be represented on the commission and distributed Attachment C. Mr. Ray answered questions from the committee.
03:24 PM -- Denny Behrens, Colorado Mule Deer Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the value that sportsmen bring to the commission and distributed Attachments D and E. Mr. Behrens answered questions from the committee.
03:41 PM -- Matt Sandler, Rocky Mountain Wild, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed his organization's recommendations for commission membership. Mr. Sandler answered questions from the committee.
03:54 PM -- Steve Bonowski, Colorado Mountain Club, spoke about his organization's activities and indicated his support for the commission to include representation for a person with nonmotorized interests. Mr. Bonowski and answered questions from the committee.
04:09 PM -- Randy Moormann, Colorado Environmental Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the activities of the organization. He explained opportunities for public comment that were provided and the resulting proposal for commission membership. He discussed usage of State Parks and Mr. Moormann answered questions from the committee concerning commission membership.
04:20 PM -- David Nickum, Colorado Trout Unlimited, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the areas of expertise represented on the commission.
04:27 PM -- Nancy Stocker, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the purpose of the commission. Ms. Stocker answered questions from the committee.
04:32 PM -- Suzanne O'Neill, Colorado Wildlife Federation, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the membership of the commission. Ms. O'Neill answered questions from the committee.
04:39 PM -- Ron Harden, Fort Collins Audubon Society, spoke in opposition to the bill.
04:43 PM -- Polly Reetz, Audubon Society of Greater Denver, spoke in opposition to the bill and explained that her organization supported the commission's original proposal for commission members. She also indicated support for two members on the commission that represent nonconsumptive uses.
04:49 PM -- Jen Boulton, Colorado Audubon, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the membership of the commission.
04:53 PM -- Ivan James, Colorado Bowhunters Association, spoke about the membership of the commission and provided some suggestions for alternative membership.
04:58 PM -- Mike King, Department of Natural Resources, spoke about the make-up and role of the commission. He spoke about the need for some clarifying amendments in the bill concerning defining "eastern plains" and providing more flexibility in the number of commission meetings required. Mr. King answered questions from the committee.
05:15 PM -- Terry Fahkauser, Colorado Cattlemen's Association, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the membership of the commission.
05:20 PM -- Dan Hodges, Colorado Springs Utilities, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the perspective of the water providers.
05:23 PM -- Eddie Kochman, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the agriculture and energy interests in relation to commission membership. He also discussed the strategic planning provisions in the bill. Mr. Kochman answered questions from the committee.
05:32 PM -- Brent Boydston, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the agriculture interests on the commission.
05:35 PM -- Lee Swenson, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, spoke about the need for the legislation but indicated provisions in the bill he would change.
05:38 PM -- Scott Jones, Colorado Off-Highway Vehicles Coalition, and spoke about public meetings that he attended concerning the division.
05:41 PM -- Chris Roe, Colorado Wildlife Advisory Committee, spoke in support of the bill and discussed some of the requirements in the bill for serving as a commission member representing the sportsmen. Mr. Roe answered questions from the committee.
05:52 PM -- Garin Vorthmann, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, spoke in support of the provisions of the bill that include energy representation on the commission.
05:53 PM
House Bill 12-1317 was laid over.
05:57 PM
The committee adjourned.