Date: 04/12/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1393

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (The amendment specifies the
Moved to amend amendment L.001. Strike lines 19 a
Refer House Bill 06-1393, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



02:08 PM -- House Bill 06-1393 - Concerning the use of Severance Taxes for Natural Resources Conservation Matching Grant Programs

Representative Curry, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill. She explained that House Bill 06-1393 creates the Conservation District Matching Grant Account within the Severance Tax Trust Fund. The bill annually transfers $450,000 from the Operational Account to this newly created account. These funds are then continuously appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for the Natural Resources Conservation Matching Grants Program. Representative Curry commented that the grants program provides moneys to local conservation districts to help them compete for matching federal dollars available for technical assistance in addressing various conservation concerns.

The following persons testified:

02:14 PM -- Mr. Larry Hooper, Colorado Conservation Districts, commented on the state and federal funding sources for conservation districts and testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hooper distributed a packet of materials on Colorado's Conservation Districts (Attachment A) Mr. Hooper commented that the conservation districts under the bill will work on water quality issues, forest restoration issues, and air quality issues. Mr. Hooper closed by saying that conservation districts address the depletion of Colorado's natural resources through the implementation of on-the-ground conservation. Mr. Hooper said that any of the 77 conservation districts in Colorado can apply for the grants under the bill.

02:19 PM -- Karen Bray, Jefferson Conservation District, testified in support of the legislation and commented on how the use of funds would be spent under the bill.

Representative Curry, distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B) and explained that it specifies the fund that money would be transferred to under the bill.
BILL:HB06-1393
TIME: 02:21:28 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (The amendment specifies the fund that moneys would be transferred to under the bill). The motion passed without objection by those members present after the following motion to amend amendment L.001 was passed without objection.
SECONDED:Massey
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Excussed
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Excussed
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1393
TIME: 02:22:39 PM
MOVED:Garcia
MOTION:Moved to amend amendment L.001. Strike lines 19 and 20 and substitute "CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR TO ANY OTHER FUND.". (The intent of the amendment is to retain all money that is transferred to the Conservation District Grant Fund in the fund for the intended purposes under House Bill 06-1393.) The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Excussed
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Excussed
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1393
TIME: 02:25:19 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1393, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0-2 vote.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Excused
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Excused
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:26 PM

Adjourn.