Date: 04/22/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1344

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1344 to the Committee on ApproPASS



11:39 AM -- HB 15-1344

Senator Sonnenberg and Senator Steadman, co-prime sponsors, described the provisions of House Bill 15-1344 concerning funding for the Western Center & Capitol Complex Projects. Effective July 1, 2019, the reengrossed bill authorizes the State Treasurer to enter into one or more lease-purchase agreements on behalf of Colorado State University (CSU) for a period of up to 20 years to construct facilities at the National Western Center and the CSU main campus. The bill creates two funds: the National Western Center Trust Fund and the Capitol Complex Master Plan (CCMP) Implementation Fund. Moneys to the funds are transferred from the General Fund. Moneys in the National Western Center Trust Fund may be spent to make annual lease-purchase payments. Moneys in the CCMP Implementation Fund may be spent to fund projects included in the CCMP, subject to the standard capital project review and approval process. Beginning August 1, 2016, the bill establishes an annual reporting requirement to the Governor and various members of legislative leadership about the progress of the redevelopment of the National Western Center.

The following persons testified on the bill:

11:42 AM -- Kelly Leid, City of Denver, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a summary of the National Western Center Master Plan (Attachment D). Mr. Leid explained how the neighborhoods surrounding the National Western Center would benefit from the project and identified sources of funding for it. Mr. Leid responded to questions from the committee regarding the need to acquire additional lands for the project, the effect of the center on the Colorado State Fair, language in the bill that identifies funding for the complex.

150422 AttachD.pdf150422 AttachD.pdf

11:52 AM

Senator Sonnenberg, Senator Steadman, and Mr. Leid responded to questions from the committee about the bill, the benefits of the master plan, how the improvements will be funded, and other issues.

12:15 PM -- Paul Andrews, National Western Stock Show, spoke in support of the bill and explained how the stock show would benefit from the National Western Complex. He explained how the complex would be expanded and responded to questions from the committee about the proposed master plan.

12:19 PM -- Mark Stetter, Colorado State University, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the role of CSU in the development of the National Western Center. He also responded to questions from the committee about the benefits the university would provide to the complex.

12:24 PM -- Chad Vorthman, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the need to rehabilitate National Western Stock Show facilities.

12:27 PM

The chair closed testimony on the bill. Senator Sonnenberg and Senator Steadman closed their remarks on the bill.

12:28 PM

Committee discussion followed about the bill.
BILL:HB15-1344
TIME: 12:29:24 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1344 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 5-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Cooke
Yes
Donovan
Yes
Garcia
No
Hodge
No
Jones
No
Scott
Yes
Roberts
Excused
Sonnenberg
Yes
YES: 5 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS