Joint Committee Committee on Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources (02/01/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	02/01/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:45 AM to 11:46 AM	Brophy	*
		Entz	X
Place:	SCR 356	Gallegos	X
		Gardner	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Groff	*
	Senator Isgar	Grossman	*
		Harvey	X
This Report was prepared by		Hodge	X
	David Beaujon	Hoppe	X
		McFadyen	X
		McKinley	X
		Rose	X
		Solano	X
		Taylor	X
		Tochtrop	E
		White	X
		Curry	X
		Isgar	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Department of Agriculture Department of Natural Resources		Briefing Briefing

09:48 AM -- Briefing on the Colorado Department of Agriculture

Don Ament, Commissioner of Agriculture, summarized the major functions of the Colorado Department of Agriculture (Attachment A).

09:51 AM

Sheldon Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, described the department's FY 2006-07 budget priorities identified in its 2005 strategic plan. For a copy of the plan, contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

09:58 AM

Commissioner Ament described the department's homeland security efforts including an animal identification program to improve the traceability of animals and prevent the spread of animal diseases. Committee discussion followed about the need to protect the personal information of agricultural producers in the animal identification program (Attachment B).

10:09 AM

Commissioner Ament described the regulation of private pesticide applicators in Colorado and commented on proposed legislation to authorize the department to regulate these applicators (see Attachment A, page 8). He explained that the indirect cost caps were eliminated in 2003 for the Brand Inspection, Chemigation, and Mandatory Fruit and Vegetable funds due to General Fund shortfalls (Attachment A, page 8). He also described efforts to restore the caps to allow additional General Fund moneys to be used to pay for these programs. Committee discussion followed about the need to restore the indirect cost caps for these three programs.

10:23 AM

Commissioner Ament described the budget request for the State Fair Authority and efforts to increase its profitability. He explained department has requested $4.3 million in FY2006-07 to pay for the State Fair's debt and an operating loan (Attachment A, page 9). Committee discussion followed about the priority of funding the $4.3 million for the State Fair and restoring the indirect cost caps for programs in the department.

10:38 AM

Deputy Commissioner Jones summarized the Department of Agriculture's 5-Year Initiative including restoring General Funding of the indirect cost caps for inspection programs, assistance for the State Fair, and reducing fees collected by the Inspection and Consumer Services Division (Attachment A, page 11).

10:45 AM -- Briefing on the Colorado Department of Natural Resources

Russell George, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, identified the divisions in the department and provided and overview of its budget. He explained that 12 percent of the department's budget comes from the State General Fund - using approximately 0.4 percent of the total state General Fund moneys. Most of the budget is paid for with fee revenue, such as hunting and fishing license fees.

10:51 AM

Mr. George provided an update on the Interbasin Compact Process that was created in HB 05-1177; including its participants, meetings, and support from Colorado State University and other public entities (Attachment C). He explained the members of the Interbasin Compact Committee have been appointed and will begin writing the charter to guide interbasin compact negotiations. Mr. George also explained that the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) determined that the demand for Colorado's water will grow significantly in the next 25 years. The Interbasin Compact Process will assist with identifying cooperative water supply solutions. Mr. George also described a legislative proposal to allocate additional state Severance Tax moneys to help pay for water supply projects.

11:05 AM

Committee discussion followed about the demand for the Severance Tax revenue that increased due to substantial increases in oil and gas production.

11:11 AM

Mr. George summarized the budget priorities for the Division of Water Resources to hire 11.5 full time employees for ground water administration and to restore General Fund support for ground water management. He also described funding proposals in the Colorado Water Conservation Board's Construction Fund request including moneys for instream flow protection, weather modification, watershed protection, and interbasin compact litigation.

11:21 AM

Mr. George described the department's budget priority to obtain additional funding for staff in the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission that regulates oil and gas development in Colorado. He also explained that the department is preparing a request to obtain additional Severance Tax revenue and General Fund moneys for species conservation. Mr. George provided an update on the Roadless Review Process that was created in SB 05-243. The Road Review Task Force is developing recommendations to the Governor concerning management of these lands.

11:37 AM

Mr. George responded to questions from the committee regarding the impact of the change in the nonresident allocation for big game licenses on the Division of Wildlife's budget. In response to a question from the committee, he also described a funding priority to pay for interstate compact litigation.

11:43 AM

The meeting was adjourned.