Joint Committee Committee on Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources (01/25/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	01/25/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:41 AM to	Baumgardner	X
		Brophy	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Brown	X
		Carroll	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Coram	X
	Senator Schwartz	Fischer	X
		Giron	E
This Report was prepared by		Grantham	X
	David Beaujon	Harvey	X
		Jones	X
		Looper	X
		McKinley	E
		Ryden	X
		Scott	X
		Tochtrop	X
		Vaad	X
		Vigil	X
		Wilson	X
		Sonnenberg	X
		Schwartz	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Meeting with the Joint Budget Committee		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

10:42 AM -- Meeting with the Joint Budget Committee

Representative Becker, explained some of the items that the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) voted to not support in Department of Agriculture's budget request including the proposed cash funding for the Inspection and Consumer Services Programs and the elimination of indirect cost caps for the Brand Board. Representative Becker answered questions from the committee.

10:50 AM

The committee discussed the cost cap for the Brand Board and Representative Becker and Senator Steadman explained why the JBC did not agree with keeping the cost caps in place.

10:57 AM

Representative Levy discussed the cash funding of the Inspection and Consumer Services Programs. Bills in 2010 completely cash funded the program in 2011 and 2012, which resulted in a General Fund savings of about $2.7 million.

11:02 AM

The committee talked about the impact fees have on the agriculture industry.

11:08 AM

Senator Carroll asked whether the JBC ever goes back and revisits decisions that have been made on department's budgets. Representative Becker explained that any JBC member can bring back a decision item at any time.

11:14 AM

The committee discussed the process for making recommendations to the JBC. After the committee votes on recommendations for each department's budget, the committee sends a letter to the JBC explaining their recommendations. The JBC then takes the letter into consideration in making future budget decisions.

11:20 AM

Representative Vaad discussed his philosophy for using performance based budgeting in order to make strategic decisions. Representative Gerou explained the process by which the JBC used the department's strategic plans in considering the department's budgets.

11:26 AM

Senator Schwartz asked about the sunset of the ACRE program in the Department of Agriculture and requested that the sunset be removed and that the program be annually funded, subject to the annual budget process.

11:30 AM

Representative Becker discussed some of the decision items concerning the Department of Natural Resources. He responded to questions concerning the additional FTE requested for the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

11:34 AM

Representative Gerou responded to questions about the status of the Parks and Wildlife merger.

11:36 AM

The committees discussed the distribution of state trust land revenues. Representative Gerou explained that the JBC would be considering legislation on this issue later today.

11:42 AM

Senator Lambert discussed the transparency intent of the SMART Government Act, which requires the committees to meet with departments and then make recommendations to the JBC.

11:46 AM

Representative Sonnenberg and Senator Schwartz thanked the JBC members for coming.

11:46 AM

The committee adjourned.