House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources (02/11/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	02/11/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:56 AM to 12:17 PM	Arndt	X
		Brown	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Buck	E
		Coram	X
This Meeting was called to order by		DelGrosso	X
	Representative Vigil	Dore	X
		Esgar	X
This Report was prepared by		Ginal	X
	Meghan O'Connor	Lebsock	X
		Mitsch Bush	X
		Saine	X
		Becker K.	X
		Vigil	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB15-1150 HB15-1187		Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

10:56 AM -- HB 15-1150

Representative Rankin, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1150, concerning a transfer from the severance tax operational fund to an existing special account in the General Fund established by the mined land reclamation board for the purpose of funding reclamation of lands that were obligated to be reclaimed under permits upon which financial warranties have been funded. The reclamation projects at forfeited mine sites are currently funded as a Tier 1 program; the bill would fund the projects as a Tier 2 program. Representative Rankin responded to questions from the committee regarding the difference between tier 1 and tier 2 programs. Carly Jacobs, Joint Budget Committee staff and Bill Levine, Budget Director, Department of Natural Resources, explained the financial aspects of the bill.

There was no testimony taken on the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1150
TIME:	11:12:53 AM
MOVED:	Mitsch Bush
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1150 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Buck
		VOTE
	Arndt	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Buck	Yes
	Coram	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Dore	Yes
	Esgar	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Lebsock	Yes
	Mitsch Bush	Yes
	Saine	Yes
	Becker K.	Yes
	Vigil	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:14 AM -- HB 15-1187

Representative Lebsock sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1187, concerning mental health evaluations of licensed veterinarians conducted by a veterinarian peer health assistance program as ordered by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine (board). The bill would authorize the board to require a licensed veterinarian to submit to a mental health examination to determine a licensed veterinarian's ability to practice if the board has reasonable cause to believe that he or she is unable to practice veterinary medicine due to a mental illness condition, excessive use of alcohol, or addiction to a controlled substance. The bill would also authorize the board to enter into an agreement with a licensed veterinarian to limit his or her practice based on the restrictions imposed by his or her illness, condition, or disorder, as determined by the board. Representative Lebsock distributed a fact sheet on the bill (Attachment A).

150211 AttachA.pdf

11:16 AM -- Dr. Erin Epperly, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), spoke in support of the bill. Dr. Epperly explained the need for a peer health assistance program and responded to questions from the committee regarding how many veterinarians would utilize peer assistance services. Committee discussion ensued regarding the peer health program and how often it would be used.

11:33 AM -- Jennifer Berman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee regarding how the board would determine which veterinarians would be required to participate in a peer assistance program.

11:36 AM -- Dr. Bill Fredregill, CVMA and practicing veterinarian, spoke in support of the bill and explained the need for a peer health assistance program for licensed veterinarians. Dr. Fredregill responded to questions from the committee regarding the suspension of veterinary practitioners. Committee discussion ensued regarding the interaction between the board and the licensed veterinarian participating in the peer assistance program.

11:54 AM -- Dr. Aubrey Lavizzo, CVMA and practicing veterinarian, spoke in support of the bill. Dr. Lavizzo shared background with the committee regarding mental health and substance abuse among veterinarians.

12:07 PM

Rep Lebsock presented Amendment L.001 (Attachment B) and Ronnie Hines, Department of Regulatory Agencies, responded to questions from the committee regarding the regulation of licensed veterinarians.

150211 AttachB.pdf


BILL:	HB15-1187
TIME:	12:08:14 PM
MOVED:	Lebsock
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Arndt
	Brown
	Buck	Excused
	Coram
	DelGrosso
	Dore
	Esgar
	Ginal
	Lebsock
	Mitsch Bush
	Saine
	Becker K.
	Vigil

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB15-1187
TIME:	12:16:17 PM
MOVED:	Lebsock
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1187, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0.
SECONDED:	Ginal
		VOTE
	Arndt	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Buck	Excused
	Coram	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Dore	Yes
	Esgar	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Lebsock	Yes
	Mitsch Bush	Yes
	Saine	Yes
	Becker K.	Yes
	Vigil	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:17 PM

The committee adjourned.