Bill Summary for Bill Number SB12-031

Date: 03/14/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-031

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion p Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-031, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection PASS

10:56 AM

Representative Bradford, committee chair, called the meeting to order.

10:57 AM -- Senate Bill 12-031

Representative Bradford, co-prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-031, concerning Federal Mineral Lease (FML) districts. Representative Bradford explained that the bill modifies state law regarding FML districts, which were created under House Bill 11-1218. She explained that the bill alters both the board membership and powers of a district so a district is independent from the county that created it. Representative Bradford discussed the need for the bill to prevent FML revenue from reducing Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to counties. PILT payments are distributed to local governments to help offset property tax losses from the amount of federal lands within county borders. She explained the distribution formula of FML revenue, which was altered under Senate Bill 08-218, and the impact of FML revenue on PILT payments distributed to counties. Representative Bradford addressed questions from the committee concerning PILT payments.

11:01 AM

Andrew Gorgey, Garfield County Attorney, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to improve state law guiding FML districts created under House Bill 11-1218. Mr. Gorgey discussed the functions of FML districts and talked about the need for counties to maximize PILT revenue. Mr. Gorgey discussed L.001 (Attachment A) and addressed questions from the committee. The committee members received prepared amendment L.001.

11:08 AM

Gregg Rippy, President of the Garfield County FML District, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need for the bill in order to prevent the reduction of PILT payments from FML revenue.

11:11 AM

Andy Karsian, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to clarify state law guiding FML districts. Mr. Karsian discussed the need for counties and FML districts to maximize federal dollars and addressed questions from the committee concerning the distribution of FML revenue and PILT payments to counties.

11:13 AM

Dianna Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC), testified in support of the bill and distributed a letter from the Rio Blanco Board of County Commissioners supporting the bill (Attachment B). Ms. Orf read the letter from Rio Blanco County and explained the need for the bill to the committee.

11:15 AM

Bruce Eisenhauer, Deputy Director of the Department of Local Affairs, testified in support of the bill and discussed the distribution formula of FML revenue, which was altered under Senate Bill 08-218. Mr. Eisenhauer discussed the distribution formula under Senate Bill 08-218 and responded to questions from the committee concerning FML revenue and PILT payments to counties.

11:18 AM

Representative Bradford discussed prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

11:19 AM

The La Plata County Board of County Commissioners submitted a letter supporting Senate Bill 12-031 (Attachment C).


BILL:	SB12-031
TIME:	11:20:48 AM
MOVED:	Bradford
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Szabo
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Conti
	Fields
	Gardner B.
	Labuda
	Lee
	Pace
	Soper
	Swerdfeger
	Szabo
	Bradford

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

11:21 AM

Representative Bradford made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-031
TIME:	11:21:45 AM
MOVED:	Bradford
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-031, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Excused
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:23 AM

The committee stood in a brief recess.