Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:03/20/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:37 PM to 03:18 PM
Fitz-Gerald
*
Johnson
X
Place:SCR 353
Lamborn
E
May R.
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Windels
X
Senator Tupa
Groff
*
Tupa
X
This Report was prepared by
Leslie Herod
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB06-1086
HB06-1281
HB06-1075		Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:36 PM -- Call to Order

Senator Tupa, chairman, called the committee to order.

01:37 PM -- House Bill 06-1086

Senator Johnson, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1086, concerning the regulation of games of chance by the secretary of state. Public hearing was held on this bill on March 13, 2006.
BILL:HB06-1086
TIME: 01:39:18 PM
MOVED:Johnson
MOTION:Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Johnson
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
Windels
Groff
Excused
Tupa
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1086
TIME: 01:41:08 PM
MOVED:Johnson
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1086, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
Yes
Windels
Yes
Groff
Excused
Tupa
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:44 PM -- House Bill 06-1281

Senator Gordon, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1281, concerning the establishment of a program to demonstrate the use of breakthrough advanced coal technology to promote low emitting coal-fueled electricity generation and, in, connection therewith making an appropriation.

01:47 PM -- Doug Dean, representing the Public Utilities Commission, testified on the bill. He discussed the issues involved in cost recovery for public utilities. He also added that the plant should be in Colorado, and all entities that use this technology should bear the cost. Senator Tupa asked about the fiscal note associated with the bill. Specifically, he referred to the cost recovery aspect of the bill.

01:55 PM -- Dianna Orf, representing the Colorado Mining Association, testified in support of the bill. She spoke to issues that might arise with the passage of this bill. She also explained the technology of coal gasification. She further indicated that energy severance tax funds will be used for the creation of this project.

02:03 PM -- John Nielson, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in favor of the bill. He spoke to the economic advantages of using coal gasification technology.

02:08 PM -- Mark Davidson, representing Rocky Mountain Steel Mills, testified against the bill. He said the billion dollar cost of this project would be reflected in utility bills. He believes the cost of this bill is too high to ask from customers at this time. He discussed an amendment he would like the committee to consider, and he further discussed the experimental nature of the project. Senator Windels asked about the difference in costs assessed by the witness and sponsor. Committee discussion ensued. Senator Fitz-Gerald asked Mr. Davidson what he suggests instead of this project, and he suggested taking smaller steps to identify and solve the issue. Senator Gordon said he does not know if it is feasible to do this project in a smaller way.


02:23 PM -- Frank Prajor, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill. He distributed a handout that outlines the project (Attachment B). He said the location of the plant would be above 14,000 feet, but the exact site has not been determined. Mr. Prajor spoke to the cost and feasibility of the project while incorporating the altitude variable. He said the size of the project is as small as it can be.

02:36 PM -- Fred Stoffel, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the development and review of the project. Senator Tupa asked about removing the language of "COLORADO RETAIL."
BILL:HB06-1281
TIME: 02:52:05 PM
MOVED:Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1281 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
No
Windels
Yes
Groff
Yes
Tupa
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:55 PM -- House Bill 06-1075

Senator Williams, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1075, concerning the sale of surplus state property. She distributed a document outlining surplus property and a statement from the Department of Corrections (Attachments C and D). The committee discussed the original language of the bill and how this would affect inmate rehabilitation programs.

03:06 PM -- Linda Bowman, representing the Colorado Community Colleges, testified in support of the bill. She spoke to the cost of housing surplus property, and to the waiver process included in the measure.


03:13 PM -- Jason Hopfer, representing Colorado Community Colleges, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the compromise agreed upon between the Department of Corrections and the Department of Higher Education.

03:16 PM

Senator Williams provided closing comments on the bill.
BILL:HB06-1075
TIME: 03:17:09 PM
MOVED:May R.
MOTION:Moved to strike the House's amendments and return bill to its original form, as introduced. The motion passed on a 5-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
Yes
Windels
Yes
Groff
Yes
Tupa
No
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:HB06-1075
TIME: 03:18:22 PM
MOVED:May R.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1075, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
Yes
Windels
Yes
Groff
Yes
Tupa
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:18 PM

The committee recessed.