Date: 02/14/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-178

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Move SB06-178 to the Committee of the Whole. Moti
Move to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment		PASS
Pass Without Objection


03:10 PM -- Senate Bill 06-178

Senator Mitchell, prime sponsor, introduced his bill and explained that this bill will allow less populated areas to use a tax credit for the clean-up of polluted land. This tax credit, currently applicable to municipalities or counties with populations over 10,000, was originally intended to reduce sprawl in urban areas. Senator Mitchell spoke to the need to give less populated areas this same tax credit when polluted properties undergo cleanup in rural areas. Senator Mitchell responded to comments and questions from the committee regarding how this tax credit will impact state revenue explaining that funding for this tax credit will stem from Senate Bill 06-001 spending.


03:25 PM

Jim Spaanstra, Environmental Lawyer, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry Environmental Council, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Spaanstra spoke to the need to remediate polluted sites outside of the metro area. Mr. Spaanstra explained that his bill will allow smaller communities to enjoy a fair chance for reimbursement from environmental clean-ups. He informed the committee that these tax credits can be transferred with the ownership of the property.


03:29 PM

Jessee Silverstein, Executive Director, Colorado Brownsfields Foundation, testified in support of the bill and spoke to the need for remediating polluted sites throughout Colorado, especially rural Colorado. Mr. Silverstein spoke to specific projects that his foundation is currently working on throughout rural Colorado that would benefit from this tax credit. He explained that these types of clean-up projects often become stalled due to feasibility and financing gaps due to clean-up costs. He voiced that this tax credit will help bridge these gaps and allow smaller communities to boost economic development opportunities. Mr. Silverstein responded to questions from the committee regarding the low use of these tax credits since this tax credit was enacted in 2000. Mr. Silverstein and Senator Shaffer responded to questions regarding the transfer of tax credits and why this population threshold (over 10,000) was placed on this tax credit when it was enacted in 2000.


03:46 PM

Eric Bergman, Office of Smart Growth, Department of Local Affairs, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bergman spoke to the need to remediate polluted properties throughout the state, specifically in rural Colorado, and he distributed DOLA's handbook on Colorado Brownfields (available on the Office of Smart Growth website http://dola.colorado.gov/smartgrowth/brownfields.htm). Mr. Bergman and Senator Mitchell responded to questions and concerns from the committee regarding the need for this tax credit program for polluted properties throughout rural Colorado.


03:54 PM

Senator Mitchell entered closing comments and offered prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment D).
BILL:SB06-178
TIME: 03:55:13 PM
MOVED:Entz
MOTION:Move to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment D).
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Entz
Jones
Kester
Tochtrop
Groff
Hanna
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-178
TIME: 03:56:41 PM
MOVED:Entz
MOTION:Move SB06-178 to the Committee of the Whole. Motion passed on a 4-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
No
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
No
Hanna
No
Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:01 PM

The meeting adjourned.