Date: 03/14/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-197

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Motion to refer SB 06-197 to the Committee of the PASS


02:04 PM -- Senate Bill 06-197

Senator Sandoval, chair, called the meeting to order. Mr. Jason Schrock, Legislative Council Staff, presented a memorandum on the Colorado Checkoff Program (Attachment A).

Senator Isgar, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of SB 06-197, which extends the period that state income tax returns will include a voluntary contribution designation benefitting the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund from tax year 2006 through tax year 2008. He discussed the importance of the checkoff.

The following persons testified:

02:11 PM -- Ms. Wendy Keefover-Ring, Sinapu, spoke in favor of the bill. She distributed a list of the nongame wildlife in the state (Attachment B). She explained how the nongame checkoff benefitted nongame and endangered wildlife in the state.

02:15 PM -- Mr. Steve Cassin, Division of Wildlife, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed contributions to the nongame and endangered checkoff and how it is a significant source of money for the division's nongame programs (about 7.5 percent). The division is responsible for managing all the state's wildlife and most of the division's resources go to managing game wildlife. He indicated that it is difficult to find an adequate funding source for nongame wildlife. In response to Senator Taylor, he discussed how the checkoff money is used for the state's nongame programs.
BILL:SB06-197
TIME: 02:22:22 PM
MOVED:Shaffer
MOTION:Motion to refer SB 06-197 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 6 - 0 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Brophy
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Taylor
Yes
Teck
Yes
Tupa
Yes
Veiga
Excused
Sandoval
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:23 PM

The committee recessed.