House Committee on Local Government (02/26/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	02/26/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:11 AM to 11:56 AM	Arndt	X
		Danielson	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Keyser	X
		Klingenschmitt	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Navarro	*
	Representative Fields	Ransom	X
		Rosenthal	X
This Report was prepared by		Saine	X
	Damion Pechota	Singer	X
		Lebsock	X
		Fields	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB15-1225		Amended, Referred to Appropriations

11:11 AM -- HB15-1225

Representative Rankin and Representative Becker K., co-sponsors, presented and summarized House Bill 15-1225 concerning the provisions of state assistance to local governments for the purpose of improved coordination in federal land management decision-making. The bill requires the Governor, in coordination with the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Executive Director of the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), to provide technical support to aid local governments in:

• entering into cooperating agency relationships with federal agencies;
• sharing information and expertise with federal land managers;
• developing local land use plans within the Colorado planning and zoning requirements for county and local governments;
• hiring consultants to perform analyses of local government interests;
• entering into memoranda of understanding with federal land management agencies; or
• implementing similar methods to improve coordination, cooperation, and collaboration in federal land management decision making.

The Governor may establish an advisory committee to provide technical assistance to local governments on federal land management decision-making processes. In addition, local governments must be notified of the availability of technical assistance.

The bill also requires the Executive Director of DOLA to distribute moneys from the Local Government Mineral Impact Fund for planning, analysis, public engagement, and coordination and collaboration with federal land managers needed by local governments for engagement in federal land management decisions.

Representative Rankin and Representative Becker K. distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

15HouseLocal0226AttachA.pdf

15HouseLocal0226AttachB.pdf

Representative Rankin and Representative Becker K. discussed potential conflicts on federal lands and the impact on local interests. She spoke on the funding of the program.

11:24 AM -- Bob Randall, representing the Department of Natural Resources, spoke in favor of the bill. He spoke on the importance of providing resources and assistance to local governments.

Mr. Randall answered questions from the committee regarding provisions for the coordination of federal and local agencies.

11:28 AM -- Bruce Eisenhauer, representing the Department of Local Affairs, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the needs to provide assistance for local planning development and coordination with the federal government regarding federal land. He discussed the source of funding for the program.

Mr. Eisenhauer answered questions from the committee regarding the amendments. He provided information on amendment L.001.

Representative Rankin answered questions from the committee regarding the use and management of federal land. Mr. Eisenhauer discussed grants available to local governments.

Representative Becker K. discussed the management of federal land.

11:36 AM -- Scott Braden, representing Conservation Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the management and use of public lands in Colorado.

Mr. Braden answered questions from the committee regarding amendment L.002.

11:40 AM -- Benjamin Waters, representative Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, spoke in favor of the bill.

11:41 AM -- Terry Fankhauser, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the importance of providing funding assistance for local governments coordinating with federal agencies. Mr. Fankhauser discussed his concerns related to the bill.

Representative Becker K. answered questions from the witness regarding local government participation in the program.

Representative Rankin discussed the coordination between federal agencies and local interests.

11:49 AM -- Suzanne O'Neill, representing the Colorado Wildlife Federation, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the role of local governments in relation to federal public lands.


BILL:	HB15-1225
TIME:	11:52:07 AM
MOVED:	Lebsock
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Navarro
		VOTE
	Arndt
	Danielson
	Keyser
	Klingenschmitt
	Navarro
	Ransom
	Rosenthal
	Saine
	Singer
	Lebsock
	Fields

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB15-1225
TIME:	11:52:52 AM
MOVED:	Keyser
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Singer
		VOTE
	Arndt
	Danielson
	Keyser
	Klingenschmitt
	Navarro
	Ransom
	Rosenthal
	Saine
	Singer
	Lebsock
	Fields

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Representative Rankin and Representative Becker K. provided closing comments on the bill.

The committee members provided closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1225
TIME:	11:55:44 AM
MOVED:	Saine
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1225, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Lebsock
		VOTE
	Arndt	Yes
	Danielson	Yes
	Keyser	Yes
	Klingenschmitt	Yes
	Navarro	Yes
	Ransom	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Saine	Yes
	Singer	Yes
	Lebsock	Yes
	Fields	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:56 AM

The committee adjourned.