Date: 04/29/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-022

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 15-022 to the Committee on ApproPASS



11:54 AM -- SB 15-022

Representative Brown, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-022, and introduced Representative Arndt as his co-sponsor. The reengrossed version of the bill transfers $1,000,000 from the Severance Tax Operational Fund to the Wildfire Risk Reduction Cash Fund in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during FY 2015-16. Up to five percent of this transfer is available for monitoring and measurement purposes. It changes terminology to expand references to hazardous fuels and specifies treatments for the removal or reduction of vegetative fuel. Where feasible, DNR is required to encourage a grant applicant to use veterans participating in an accredited Colorado Corps Program in wildfire mitigation activities.

11:58 AM -- Lisa Dale, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), explained the creation of the Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program and described several partnerships that work with the program. Ms. Dale explained that the demand for the program exceeds the availability of funding and the structure of the program.

12:04 PM -- Gaspar Perricone, DNR, explained the funding of the wildfire fund.

12:04 PM -- Paul Cooke, Director, Division of Fire Prevention and Control, spoke in support of the bill.

12:07 PM -- Mr. Perricone returned to the witness table to answer further questions regarding the funding of the wildfire fund.

12:09 PM -- Meghan Dollar, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee. Ms. Dale also answered further questions from the committee regarding how grants are awarded and the use of the wildfire prevention tax credit program.

12:15 PM -- Carol Ekarius, Coalition of the Upper South Platte Basin, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Ekarius described the Woodland Park project, specifically how private landowners were involved.

12:19 PM

Committee discussion ensued regarding regarding the sponsorship of the bill.

BILL:SB15-022
TIME: 12:22:11 PM
MOVED:Brown
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-022 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-1.
SECONDED:Arndt
VOTE
Arndt
Yes
Becker J.
Yes
Brown
Yes
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Dore
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Saine
No
Becker K.
Excused
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS