House Committee on Transportation & Energy (03/16/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	03/16/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:39 PM to 03:37 PM	Borodkin	X
		Cadman	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Green	X
		Hefley	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Knoedler	X
	Representative Pommer	Larson	X
		Lindstrom	X
This Report was prepared by		Ragsdale	X
	Brad Denning	Welker	X
		McFadyen	X
		Pommer	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB05-001 HB05-1306 SB05-143		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to Committee on Finance Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:40 PM -- Senate Bill 05-001

Representative Buescher, prime sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 05-001 regarding the creation of the Low-Income Assistance Act and its opt-in provision. He responded to committee questions.

The following people testified:

01:45 PM -- Skip Arnold, representing Energy Outreach Colorado, a public and private enterprise formed by the legislature, testified in support of the bill. He reviewed the amount of moneys currently distributed by his organization and the recipients. He noted that the need is great and the funding is lower than it has been in the past. He believes this bill brings forward a creative public program to fund low-income needs. He responded to committee questions with Rep. Buescher. Mr. Arnold indicated that last year his organization distributed $6 million dollars, and he expects they will distribute approximately $8 million this year.

02:11 PM -- Tom Swanson, representing the American Association of Retired People (AARP), legislative advocate, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Swanson indicated that this type of program is good for reducing the costs for low-income groups.

02:15 PM -- Wanda Cowart, representing Catholic Charities, testified in support of the bill. She believes that many of the individuals who ask for this type of support are working and its a choice as to which bill (medical, prescription, food) will get paid. She explained the in-take process conducted by Catholic Charities, which is used to determine whether or not someone is eligible for funds to pay certain bills.

02:21 PM -- Donah Moody, representing the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), indicated that the CREA is neutral on the bill. CREA has opposed similar legislation in the past, but, she explained that Rep. Buescher has gone to great lengths to address any of their objections to the bill. CREA believes this bill will provide a needed mechanism for low-income groups. She responded to committee questions.

02:27 PM -- Greg Schnacke, representing the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in support of the bill.

02:29 PM -- Seth Voyles, representing the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU), testified in support of the bill. He indicated that CSU has a similar project and responded to questions.

02:38 PM -- Helen Wells, representing Kinder Morgan, testified in support of the bill, especially the opt-in provision of the bill.

02:40 PM -- Dave Lock, representing Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU), testified in support of the bill. He noted that the bill gives utilities the flexibility to offer their own programs. He responded to committee questions. He noted that the bill is a mandate, and CAMU does support this mandate. Rep. Hefley asked why utilities couldn't offer their own programs without such a mandate. Mr. Lock indicated that may of the utilities are offering such a program.


BILL:	SB05-001
TIME:	02:43:33 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.010 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Larson
		VOTE
	Borodkin
	Cadman
	Green
	Hefley
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB05-001
TIME:	02:44:04 PM
MOVED:	Green
MOTION:	Moved to refer SB 05-001 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 7-4 vote.
SECONDED:	Larson
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	No
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	No
	Knoedler	No
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	No
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Rep. Cadman asked Skip Arnold, representing Energy Outreach Colorado, to return to the table to respond to questions about the amendment, concerning the EOC's Annual Report.

02:54 PM -- House Bill 05-1306

Representative Kerr, prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 05-1306 regarding the suspension of a person's driver's license when the person is convicted of an offense related to underage drinking. He responded to committee questions.

The following people testified:

02:59 PM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs Association, testified in support of the bill.

03:00 PM -- Steve Findley, representing the Colorado Beer Distributor's Association, testified in support of the bill.

03:00 PM -- Pete Meersman, representing the Colorado Restaurant Association, testified in support of the bill

03:02 PM -- Winnfield Atkins, representing DIAGEO North America, testified in support of the bill. He provided a copy of his testimony (Attachment B).

03:05 PM -- David Reitz, representing Dill and Dill, a law firm, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB05-1306
TIME:	03:07:47 PM
MOVED:	Knoedler
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Larson
		VOTE
	Borodkin
	Cadman
	Green
	Hefley
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1306
TIME:	03:09:25 PM
MOVED:	Green
MOTION:	Moved to refer HB -5-1306, as amended, to the Committee on Finance, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 9-1-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Knoedler
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	Excused
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Welker	No
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:14 PM -- Senate Bill 05-143

Representative McFadyen, prime sponsor, explained Senate Bill 05-143 regarding the implementation of the initiated measure requiring Renewable Energy Standards.

The following people testified:

03:16 PM -- Rick Gilliam, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Gilliam indicated that the provisions in the bill help to clarify the initiative that was passed in November 2004.

03:19 PM -- Seth Voyles, representing Colorado Springs Utilities, testified in support of the bill.

03:20 PM -- Ray Clifton, representing CREA, testified in support of the bill. He said that three rural electric cooperatives are immediately effected by Amendment 37, and three more will soon be impacted by the initiative. He believes the bill is correctly characterized as a consensus implementation bill.

03:24 PM -- Dave Lock, representing CAMU, testified in support of the bill.

03:26 PM -- Jim Farmer, representing himself, of Innovative Resources, testified in support of the bill. He indicated that his company is in the business of wind turbines.

03:28 PM -- Robert Hix, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	SB05-143
TIME:	03:28:52 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Referred Senate Bill 05-143 to the Committee of the Whole, unamended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS