Date: 02/11/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB13-1191

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 13-1191 to the Committee on ApproPASS



05:47 PM -- House Bill 13-1191

Representative Fischer, sponsor, presented House Bill 13-1191. This bill, recommended by the Capital Development Committee, establishes the Nutrients Grant Fund, to be administered by the CDPHE. The CDPHE will make grants from the fund to assist local governments that operate wastewater treatment facilities with planning, design, construction, and other improvements necessary for compliance with recently-adopted nutrient management control regulations. Up to five percent of the fund may be expended on the CDPHE's costs to administer these grants. The Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) must adopt rules to administer the fund, including a means of prioritizing grants to local governments least financially capable of complying with nutrient regulations. The fund is repealed September 1, 2016.

The following persons testified on the bill:

05:49 PM -- Representative Vigil announced that Evan Goulding, Special District Association, was not able to stay to testify on the bill but asked that the record show that he supports the bill.

05:49 PM -- Donna Davis, Water Quality Control Division, spoke in support of the bill. She said that if this bill was passed the Water Quality Control Division would work with stakeholders to develop the criteria that would be used to distribute the funds, and stated that an emphasis would be placed on the communities with the highest financial need. Ms. Davis also talked about the rule-making process and answered questions from the committee regarding the scope of the cost of the new nutrient standards and the funding of grants.

05:53 PM

Committee discussion regarding the capitol construction fund ensued.

05:55 PM -- Dianna Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC), spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Orf discussed the financial difficulties that the counties in the AGNC have meeting compliance requirements. She answered questions from the committee regarding the related cost-benefit analysis that was done by a third party.

06:01 PM

Representative Fischer explained some of the history of water quality control and why the grant program under question is important. Ms. Orf answered questions from the committee regarding the sewer plant that was recently built in Fruita. Representative Fischer responded to questions from the committee regarding the funding mechanisms available to small municipalities for water treatment.

06:06 PM -- Kevin Bommer, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the short- and long-term costs of the nutrient standards that were adopted recently. Mr. Bowmer also briefly talked about Executive Order 5 and how it relates to this bill.

06:11 PM

Representative Fischer wrapped up his discussion of the bill and asked for a favorable vote.

BILL:HB13-1191
TIME: 06:11:51 PM
MOVED:Fischer
MOTION:Refer House Bill 13-1191 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-3 with one excused.
SECONDED:McLachlan
VOTE
Buck
No
Coram
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
McLachlan
Yes
McNulty
No
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Saine
Excused
Sonnenberg
No
Vigil
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




06:13 PM

The committee adjourned.