Date: 03/18/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-175

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion
Adopt amendment L.007 (Attachment B). The motion w
Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment D). The motion f
Adopt conceptual amendment to L.007 (Attachment B)
Refer Senate Bill 13-175 to the Committee on Appro		FAIL

FAIL
FAIL
PASS



01:41 PM -- Senate Bill 13-175

The committee took a brief recess.

01:43 PM

The committee came back to order.

Representative McLachlan, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 13-175. The bill continues the Habitat Stamp Program and the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee indefinitely, and repeals the Colorado Wildlife Passport and its cash fund. In consultation with the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee, the Parks and Wildlife Commission is directed to give sufficient priority to conserve and protect winter range and vital habitats, including migration corridors, for deer, elk, and other big game wildlife species; improve access for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related recreation; protect habitat for species of concern; and preserve the diversity of wildlife.

Staff distributed a document to the committee that outlines the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program from Colorado Parks & Wildlife (Attachment A). Representative McLachlan answered questions from the committee about the bill, conservation easements, and requirements of the Habitat Stamp Program. Representative Hamner, co-sponsor, joined Representative McLachlan at the table and answered questions regarding the sunset review process as it relates to this bill. Committee discussion on the bill ensued.

130318 AttachA.pdf130318 AttachA.pdf

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:07 PM -- Rick Cabels and Jeff Ver Steeg, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cabels talked about the land, animals, ranchers, sportsmen and sportswomen that have benefited from the program. Mr. Cabels discussed the funds that are accrued from this program, the membership of the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee, changes to the program as outlined in the bill, and the lack of a sunset provision in the bill. Mr. Cabels answered questions from the committee regarding easements, the committee's criteria for choosing projects, and policies regarding fees. Mr. Ver Steeg answered questions from the committee regarding different types of program income. Mr. Cabels answered questions regarding special license plates, the sticker system used by state parks, how moneys garnered from the program are used, and anticipated changes to the program. Mr. Cabels continued to answer questions from the committee regarding if a sunset review should be included in the bill and how to encourage more applicants to the program. Committee discussion ensued regarding how the department might respond to a legislative declaration that encourages more applicants to the program. Mr. Cabels continued to respond to questions from the committee regarding the competitive nature of the program and conservation easements.

02:40 PM -- Gary Miller, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Miller talked about his participation on the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee and explained how proposals for the program are reviewed and accepted or rejected. Mr. Miller answered questions from the committee regarding how the program benefits the agriculture industry and the level of collaboration between the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee and the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board.

02:53 PM -- John Singletary and Gaspar Perricone, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, Department of Natural Resources, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Perricone talked about why the Colorado Wildlife Passport program was repealed per the provisions of the bill. Mr. Singletary discussed conservation easements, outreach efforts, and non-consumptive use of Colorado lands. Mr. Singletary answered questions from the committee regarding why the Habitat Stamp program should be exempt from a sunset review. Mr. Perricone addressed this question as well. Committee discussion ensued on this topic.

03:14 PM -- Suzanne O'Neill, Colorado Wildlife Federation, spoke in support of the bill. Tim Brass, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, joined Ms. O'Neill at the table and spoke in support of the bill. Ms. O'Neill described the Colorado Wildlife Federation and said the federation is pleased with how the program has been executed. Ms. O'Neill offered examples of how the program has affected Colorado positively. Mr. Brass discussed the importance of this program to Colorado hunters and anglers and talked about some of the issues that face Colorado wildlife. Ms. O'Neill answered questions from the committee regarding the types of purchases that contribute to cash funds.

03:20 PM -- Heidi Sherk, Nature Conservancy and Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Sherk discussed how the program is highly leveraged and how non-consumptive communities contribute to conservation efforts.

03:20 PM

Representative Sonnenberg distributed amendment L.007 (Attachment B) and amendment L.001 (Attachment C) to the committee. Committee discussion on L.007 (Attachment B) ensued.

130318 AttachB.pdf130318 AttachB.pdf130318 AttachC.pdf130318 AttachC.pdf
BILL:SB13-175
TIME: 03:23:08 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt conceptual amendment to L.007 (Attachment B) to add "or threatened" after "endangered" and before "species" in line 6. The motion failed on a vote of 6-7.
SECONDED:McNulty
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Garcia
No
Lebsock
No
McLachlan
No
McNulty
Yes
Mitsch Bush
No
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
No
Saine
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Vigil
No
Fischer
No
YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

BILL:SB13-175
TIME: 03:30:51 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.007 (Attachment B). The motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:Rankin
VOTE
Buck
Coram
Garcia
Lebsock
McLachlan
McNulty
Mitsch Bush
Rankin
Rosenthal
Saine
Sonnenberg
Vigil
Fischer
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:

03:31 PM

Staff distributed amendment L.008 (Attachment D) to the committee. Committee discussion on the amendment ensued.

130318 AttachD.pdf130318 AttachD.pdf
BILL:SB13-175
TIME: 03:48:42 PM
MOVED:McNulty
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment D). The motion failed on a vote of 6-7.
SECONDED:Sonnenberg
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Garcia
No
Lebsock
No
McLachlan
No
McNulty
Yes
Mitsch Bush
No
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
No
Saine
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Vigil
No
Fischer
No
YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


03:49 PM

Representative Sonnenberg described amendment L.001 (Attachment C). Committee discussion on the amendment ensued.

BILL:SB13-175
TIME: 03:56:23 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion failed on a vote of 6-7.
SECONDED:McNulty
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Garcia
No
Lebsock
No
McLachlan
No
McNulty
Yes
Mitsch Bush
No
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
No
Saine
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Vigil
No
Fischer
No
YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:SB13-175
TIME: 04:04:45 PM
MOVED:McLachlan
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 13-175 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-4.
SECONDED:Rosenthal
VOTE
Buck
No
Coram
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
McLachlan
Yes
McNulty
No
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Saine
No
Sonnenberg
No
Vigil
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:05 PM

The committee took a brief recess.


04:11 PM

The committee came back to order.