Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:05/03/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:05:20 PM to 06:42 PM
Benefield
X
Cloer
X
Place:HCR 0107
Crane
X
Frangas
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Garcia
X
Representative Vigil
Harvey
X
Jahn
X
This Report was prepared by
Kerr
X
Ron Kirk
Marshall
X
Massey
X
McCluskey
X
Judd
X
Vigil
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB06-229
SB06-031
SB06-230
SB06-214
SB06-114		Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Appropriations


05:20 PM -- Senate Bill 06-229 - Concerning the Henderson Underground Science & Engineering Project (HUSEP)

Representative Plant, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-229 would require the General Assembly to appropriate a total of $20 million from the operational account of the severance tax trust fund over a 5-year period beginning in FY 2007-08, to pay the state's share of the costs related to the construction and operation of a national deep underground science and engineering laboratory (DUSEL) facility that will house a visitor's center, educational resources, and DUSEL administrative offices. This requirement is conditional upon the National Science Foundation awarding DUSEL to the Henderson Mine near Empire.














The following persons testified:

05:26 PM -- Lt. Governor Jane Norton, State Advisory Commission on HUSEP, testified in support of the legislation and discussed the events that led to the legislation. The Lt. Governor explained that the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) proposed at the Henderson Mine near Empire, Colorado, is a collaboration of industry, higher education, state and local officials, and community members. During the past few decades, large-scale underground physics laboratories in Canada, Europe, and Japan have made major discoveries in science including neutrino physics. But this is not the case for U.S. laboratories. The Henderson DUSEL would allow U.S. scientists and engineers to re-establish leadership in underground science and engineering. The DUSEL at Henderson would provide a bold and comprehensive science and engineering program for fundamental discoveries with far reaching benefits in physics, geoscience, and bioscience. The Lt. Governor urged committee members to vote for the legislation. A packet of materials on DUSEL was distributed to committee members (Attachment A).

05:29 PM -- Mr. Steve Schultz, Arapahoe Project, testified in support of the measure and distributed a handout from the Arapaho Project (Attachment B). Mr. Schultz explained that the Arapaho Project, Clear Creek and Grand counties, and members of HUSEP strongly believe the Henderson Mine is the ideal site for the National Science Foundation's proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). A high profile national laboratory like DUSEL will directly benefit Clear Creek County and the State of Colorado. Recent studies by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade indicate a direct and secondary benefit to Clear Creek County of $99 million over a ten year period and $364 million to the state over the same time period. Please vote for the proposal.

05:34 PM -- Mr. Jim Cole, Colorado School of Mines, testified in support of the legislation.

05:34 PM -- Mr. Russ George, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the legislation and endorsed the project. Mr. George closed by saying that the severance tax is an appropriate funding source for this project. The DUSEL project will enable Colorado to become an international leader in science.

























BILL:SB06-229
TIME: 05:39:41 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment that would require beginning FY 2007-08, a two year reserve in the operational account of the Severance Tax Fund to provide funding under the legislation. The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Harvey
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-229
TIME: 05:41:17 PM
MOVED:Kerr
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-229, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Massey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Excused
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




06:00 PM -- Senate Bill 06-031 - Concerning College Opportunity Fund Stipends for Education Programs on Military Bases

Representative Merrifield, prime sponsor, briefly explained that Senate Bill 06-031 allows a member of the armed forces to receive in-state tuition status and a college opportunity fund stipend for a higher education program attended on a military base.

The following persons testified:

06:01 PM -- Mr. Joseph Simeina, Mr. Joseph Garcia, and Mr. Terry Brubalter, Pikes Peak Community College, commented on the advantages of the legislation to allow soldiers on military bases to take college courses and testified in support of the bill. A handout on the Fort Carson soldier comments was distributed to committee members (Attachment B).

The bill was placed on the table for action.
BILL:SB06-031
TIME: 06:02:59 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-031 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Massey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Excused
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


06:04 PM -- Senate Bill 06-230 - Concerning the Regulation of Wholesalers of Prescription Drugs

Representative Benefield, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-230 requires prescription drug wholesalers to become licensed with the State Board of Pharmacy. The bill establishes requirements for licensure, defines restricted transactions, requires certain drugs to have a pedigree, and creates fines for knowingly or unknowingly violating the bill's provisions regarding the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs.








Representative Benefield distributed amendments L.022 (Attachment C), L.023 (Attachment D), and L.020 (Attachment E) to committee members. Representative Vigil, Chairman, placed the bill on the table for action. Representative Benefield moved amendment L.022 and explained that the amendment makes a technical correction on the Health and Human Services Committee Report. The motion passed without objection by those members present. Representative Benefield moved amendment L.023 and explained that the amendment provides for an inspection provision. The amendment passed without objection by those members present. Representative Benefield moved amendment L.020 and explained that it makes a technical correction. The motion passed without objection by those members present. Representative Benefield moved to refer Senate Bill 06-230, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0-0 vote.
BILL:SB06-230
TIME: 06:09:13 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved amendment L.022 (the amendment makes a technical correction on the Health and Human Services Committee Report). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Cloer
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB06-230
TIME: 06:10:48 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved amendment L.023 (the amendment provides for an inspection provision). The amendment passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-230
TIME: 06:11:36 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved amendment L.020 (the amendment makes a technical correction). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB06-230
TIME: 06:12:31 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-230, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0-0 vote.
SECONDED:Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


06:14 PM -- Senate Bill 06-214 - Concerning Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration

Representative Green, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-214 directs the Department of Public Health and Environment to administer a program to award the following grants:

• a $50,000 grant to Colorado State University to study the potential of terrestrial carbon sequestration as a technique for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in the state;
• a $50,000 grant to the Colorado School of Mines to study the potential of geologic carbon sequestration as a technique for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in the state; and
• a $35,000 grant to a public university to study emerging international and domestic markets in greenhouse gas emissions and private firms in various economic sectors that are reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The bill requires that each grant recipient report the results of its research to the General Assembly by March 15, 2007.

 The following person testified:

06:17 PM -- Mr. Jim Cole, Colorado School of Mines, testified in support of the legislation.

Representative Green distributed amendment L.004 (Attachment F) and explained that it makes a technical correction. The amendment was moved by Representative Cloer and it passed without objection by those members present. Representative Cloer moved to refer Senate Bill 06-214, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-2-0 vote.




BILL:SB06-214
TIME: 06:18:16 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.004 (the amendment makes a technical correction). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-214
TIME: 06:18:53 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-214, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-2-0 vote.
SECONDED:Judd
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
No
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
No
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





06:19 PM -- Senate Bill 06-114 - Concerning Anaerobic Controls in the Operation of Commercial Swine Feeding Operations

Representative Gardner, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-114 allows wastewater vessels and impoundments used in a housed commercial swine operation to be operated with technologies or practices to minimize the emission of odorous gases so long as those technologies are at least as effective as covers. Currently, waste vessels must be covered.

Representative Gardner explained that in addition, the bill establishes an annual fee for housed commercial swine feeding operations to offset the direct and indirect costs of enforcement, compliance, and regulation of air quality controls. The fee is limited to $0.07 per animal, based on the operation's working capacity.

The committee discussed the 7 cent fee in the bill and whether it is sufficient.

06:23 PM -- Ms. Jill Cooper, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the legislation and responded to committee questions about the 7 cent fee and the fiscal note.

06:27 PM -- Mr. James Dean, Rocky Mountain Farmers union, testified in opposition toward the bill and commented that numbers in the fiscal note were a concern. Mr. Dean closed by discussing enforcement issues in the bill and mentioned that not all county officials supported an enforcement mandate.

After a brief committee discussion on the 7 cent fee, Representative Judd moved a conceptual amendment that would allow the department to raise the 7 cent fee to 12 cents. The motion failed on a 11-2-0 vote. Representative McCluskey moved to refer Senate Bill 06-114 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-3-0 vote.




























BILL:SB06-114
TIME: 06:39:23 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment that would allow the department to raise the seven-cent fee to 12 cents. The motion failed on a 11-2-0 vote.
SECONDED:Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
No
Cloer
No
Crane
No
Frangas
No
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
No
Jahn
No
Kerr
No
Marshall
No
Massey
No
McCluskey
No
Judd
Yes
Vigil
No
Not Final YES: 2 NO: 11 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB06-114
TIME: 06:41:51 PM
MOVED:McCluskey
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-114 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-3-0 vote.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Benefield
No
Cloer
No
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
No
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


06:42 PM

Adjourn.