Date: 02/25/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB13-1232

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt a conceptual amendment to include any vetera
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion
Refer House Bill 13-1232 to the Committee of the W

PASS



01:32 PM

Representative Fischer made some brief announcements and introductions.

01:35 PM -- House Bill 13-1232

Representative McLachlan, sponsor, presented House Bill 13-1232. The bill expands the free fishing license program to persons assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion. Currently, free fishing licenses are available to active or retired members of the United States armed forces who are permanently disabled, resident patients at certain care facilities, or Colorado residents on leave visiting home. Representative McLachlan answered questions from the committee regarding the Warrior Transition Battalion and existing fishing license laws.

01:42 PM -- Brett Ackerman, Division of Parks and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Ackerman discussed how the division would administer the program, if the bill were to be implemented. Mr. Ackerman answered questions from the committee regarding fishing license requirements and accessibility for disabled citizens.

01:46 PM -- Gordy Rothoff, Project Healing Waters, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Rothoff talked about the mission and history of Project Healing Waters. He also discussed Warrior Transition Units, some of his experiences working with veterans through Project Healing Waters, and nature's healing abilities. Committee discussion ensued regarding the process for how Wounded Warriors would be granted the right to fish and the relationship between the Wounded Warriors Program and the Warrior Transition Battalion.

01:55 PM -- Jerry Hensley, representing Project Healing Waters, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Hensley discussed how Project Healing Waters aided in his recovery process after returning home from serving in the Army. He answered questions from the committee regarding volunteer fly fishing guides and locations where he has fished.

01:59 PM -- Dan Gomez, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He talked about how Project Healing Waters helped his recovery process after serving in the Army and Navy and his experiences in the Wounded Warrior Battalion. Mr. Gomez highlighted some of the injuries he sustained from serving in the armed forces and discussed how he was able to overcome them. He answered questions from the committee about his experiences with fly fishing and how it compares to other methods of fishing.

02:04 PM -- Joe Vigil, Project Healing Waters, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Vigil talked about his experiences serving in the Army and in a Warrior Transition Unit, and described how Project Healing Waters has aided his recovery without the use of medication.

02:07 PM -- Nate Gorman, United Veterans Committee (UVC), spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Gorman talked about the functions and scope of the UVC and the healing powers of the Colorado wilderness.

02:09 PM

Committee discussion ensued regarding an amendment that Representative Sonnenberg said he had drafted, but had not yet arrived to the committee.

BILL:HB13-1232
TIME: 02:10:55 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt a conceptual amendment to include any veteran who has been injured in the line of duty or is in rehabilitation from their service to be included in the free licensing program. The motion failed for lack of a second.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Buck
Coram
Garcia
Lebsock
McLachlan
McNulty
Mitsch Bush
Rankin
Rosenthal
Saine
Excused
Sonnenberg
Vigil
Fischer
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:



02:12 PM

The committee took a brief recess. During the recess, staff distributed two documents from Project Healing Waters (Attachments A and B).

130225 AttachA.pdf130225 AttachA.pdf130225 AttachB.pdf130225 AttachB.pdf


02:29 PM

The committee came back to order. Representative Sonnenberg discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment C), which staff distributed to the committee.

02:30 PM

Committee discussion ensued regarding Amendment L.001 (Attachment C).

130225 AttachC.pdf130225 AttachC.pdf
BILL:HB13-1232
TIME: 02:35:34 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:Buck
VOTE
Buck
Coram
Garcia
Lebsock
McLachlan
McNulty
Mitsch Bush
Rankin
Rosenthal
Saine
Excused
Sonnenberg
Vigil
Fischer
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:



BILL:HB13-1232
TIME: 02:38:11 PM
MOVED:McLachlan
MOTION:Refer House Bill 13-1232 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0 with three members excused.
SECONDED:Lebsock
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Coram
Excused
Garcia
Excused
Lebsock
Yes
McLachlan
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Rankin
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Saine
Excused
Sonnenberg
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS