FIRST Conference Committee on HB14-1398 (05/07/2014)

STAFF SUMMARY OF FIRST MEETING OF

FIRST CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB14-1398

Date:	05/07/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:00 PM to 01:45 PM	Pabon	X
		Balmer	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Dore	X
		Schwartz	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Steadman	X
Representative Singer		Singer	X
This Report was prepared by
Erin Vanderberg

12:52 PM -- HB14-1398

Representative Singer, chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was present. Senator Schwartz distributed four handouts to the committee (Attachments A through D, respectively). Representative Singer discussed the purpose of the conference committee. Senator Schwartz and Senator Balmer discussed banking issues facing hemp industries. Representative Pabon requested clarification on the definition of a licensed marijuana business. Representative Dore discussed the regulatory differences between hemp and marijuana. Representative Pabon discussed his concern that hemp does not fit under the bill title.

14ConfComm0507HB14-1398AttachA.pdf

14ConfComm0507HB14-1398AttachB.pdf

14ConfComm0507HB14-1398AttachC.pdf

14ConfComm0507HB14-1398AttachD.pdf

01:02 PM

Senator Steadman stated that the late introduction of the bill hindered thorough vetting, and stated that it was the purpose of this conference committee to provide the opportunity for missed issues. Representative Singer distributed Amendment CHLB1398.001 (Attachment E) to the committee. Committee discussion ensued.

14ConfComm0507HB14-1398AttachE.pdf


BILL:	HB14-1398
TIME:	01:15:26 PM
MOVED:	Singer
MOTION:	Adopt the first report of the first conference committee on House Bill 14-1398. The motion failed on a vote of 2-4.
SECONDED:	Pabon
		VOTE
	Pabon	Yes
	Balmer	No
	Dore	Yes
	Schwartz	No
	Steadman	No
	Singer	No

YES: 2 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

01:15 PM

Representative Singer stated that he would accept 15 minutes of public testimony on the bill.

The following individuals testified:

01:16 PM -- Samantha Walsh, representing the Rocky Mountain Hemp Association, cited examples of rural hemp farmers who have had their line of credit threatened as recently as last week for their involvement in industrial hemp cultivation. She stated that participation in the cooperatives outlined in the bill is voluntary. She discussed the lack of federal distinction between marijuana and hemp but for research and development purposes.

01:19 PM -- Jenifer Waller, representing the Colorado Bankers Association, stated that her organization did not account for the inclusion of hemp when it took a neutral stance on the bill. She discussed different reporting requirements for each industry. She stated that banks in the states are currently lending to hemp farmers under existing agricultural loans and she expressed her industry's willingness to help hemp farmers access banking.

01:22 PM

Senator Steadman discussed the purpose of the bill and proposed a conceptual amendment. Representative Dore asked the drafter to clarify what the conceptual amendment would do. Thomas Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services, discussed the amendment. Committee discussion continued on the scope of the bill. Senator Steadman modified his conceptual amendment to amend the first report of the first conference committee, CHLB1398.001.


BILL:	HB14-1398
TIME:	01:30:46 PM
MOVED:	Steadman
MOTION:	Amend the first report of the first conference committee (CHLB1398.001), Page 4, Line 10, Strike "OR 12-43.4-405," and Add "12-43.4-405, OR 35-61-104,". This motion was not voted upon.
SECONDED:	Balmer
		VOTE
	Pabon
	Balmer
	Dore
	Schwartz
	Steadman
	Singer

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:

01:35 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

01:43 PM

The committee came back to order. Representative Singer stated that the committee would recess until 2:30 PM, or upon adjournment of the conference committee for House Bill 14-1001, in order to give stakeholders the opportunity to consider the proposed conceptual amendment to the conference committee report.

01:44 PM

The committee recessed. Later that day, Representative Singer made a motion on the House floor that this first conference committee on House Bill 14-1398 be dissolved and that the House would recede from its position on the bill and adopt the rerevised version.