House Committee on Local Government (03/12/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	03/12/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:34 PM to 03:28 PM	Balmer	X
		Conti	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Fields	X
		Gardner B.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Labuda	X
	Representative Bradford	Lee	X
		Pace	X
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Raegan Robb	Swerdfeger	X
		Szabo	X
		Bradford	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB12-1282 HB12-1319		Referred to Appropriations Laid Over

01:35 PM

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

01:37 PM -- House Bill 12-1282

Vince Matthews, Director of the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) within the Department of Natural Resources, addressed the committee to discuss the duties of the CGS and distributed handouts to the committee concerning the CGS Land Use Program (Attachment A), geologic hazards in Colorado (Attachment B), and a Guide to Swelling Soil (on file at the Legislative Council Staff office and at the State Archives). Director Matthews explained that current law requires the CGS to conduct a geologic evaluation for any proposed subdivision under review by a board of county commissioners. He explained that the bill allows the CGS to determine if a plan can be exempt from the current evaluation requirement. Director Matthews addressed questions from the committee concerning land use decisions for municipalities and counties and explained that the bill only addresses subdivision plans in unincorporated areas of counties.

01:45 PM

Larry Carrillo, representing the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), addressed the committee to explain that the AIPG was neutral on the bill and discussed the need for more time to resolve some issues with the bill.

01:48 PM

Eric Heil, representing the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to improve the review process of county subdivisions. Mr. Heil addressed questions from the committee concerning the number of subdivisions that were submitted to the CGS for review during 2011 and the impact of the bill on state revenue raised by each geologic evaluation.

01:52 PM

Andy Karsian, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill and discussed certain cases where county subdivision plans could have been exempt from the current review requirement in state law for geologic evaluations by the CGS.

01:53 PM

Representative Ramirez, prime sponsor of House Bill 12-1282, made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	HB12-1282
TIME:	01:54:30 PM
MOVED:	Szabo
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 12-1282 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:55 PM

The committee stood in a brief recess.

01:56 PM

The committee returned from recess.

01:56 PM -- House Bill 12-1319

Representative Gardner, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1319, concerning building inspections relating to utilities in public schools. Representative Gardner explained that current law requires the electrical and plumbing inspections of public school buildings to be performed by state inspectors, although local building departments also inspect school buildings. He discussed the need to remove this requirement and allow local building departments to perform electrical and plumbing inspections of public school buildings within their jurisdiction. Representative Gardner addressed questions from the committee concerning the current process for inspecting public school buildings and the qualifications of local building inspectors to complete thorough inspections of school buildings.

02:05 PM

Bob Croft, representing the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), testified in support of the bill and explained that the PPRBD is an enterprise entity created by several local governments to perform building inspections throughout El Paso County. Mr. Croft discussed the need for the bill and explained that, under current law, the PPRBD cannot currently complete inspections of public school buildings constructed within El Paso County. Mr. Croft addressed questions from the committee and discussed why local building departments should conduct the required inspections of public schools, but not colleges and universities.

02:18 PM

Brian Pritchard, representing the Division of Registrations under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), addressed the committee to respond to questions and discussed the different requirements in state law for electrical and plumbing inspections. Mr. Pritchard explained that current state law regulates electrical inspections, but not plumbing inspections. He also explained that the bill would allow local entities to opt out of conducting building inspections of public school buildings.

02:29 PM

Committee discussion ensued concerning the need for the bill and whether the bill would reduce the number of state building inspectors.

02:30 PM

Kandice McKeon, representing the Colorado Building and Trades Council, testified against the bill and talked about the need for public school buildings to be held to the uniform inspection standards required under current state law.

02:34 PM

Ed Knox, representing Local Chapter 68 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, testified against the bill and talked about the need for consistent inspections standards for public schools throughout the state. Mr. Knox addressed questions from the committee and discussed problems that could occur if different standards for public schools are applied by different local governments. Discussion ensued between Mr. Knox and the committee concerning the need for the bill and the different requirements for electrical and plumbing inspections under current state law.

02:44 PM

Becky Baker, representing the Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council, testified against the introduced version of the bill and discussed the need for consistent building codes for all school buildings throughout the state. Ms. Baker responded to questions from the committee and talked about the need for the bill to be amended.

02:48 PM

Tom Lofland, representing himself, testified against the bill and discussed the benefits of state inspectors assisting with the inspection of public school buildings. Mr. Lofland discussed complications that would result from the bill and addressed questions from the committee concerning the relationship between state and local building inspectors and school districts.

03:03 PM

John Goodloe, representing CSNA Architects, testified in support of the bill and discussed complications with the current state planning review process of coordinating state and local planning inspections of public school buildings. Mr. Goodloe addressed questions from the committee and discussed a personal case involving the Office of the State Architect and the Examining Board of Plumbers under DORA.

03:13 PM

Ralph Lufen, representing the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of ensuring that electrical contractors are properly licensed. Mr. Lufen addressed questions from the committee concerning the licensing of electrical contractors and talked about the standards of the National Electrical Code.

03:18 PM

R.J. Hicks, representing the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors, addressed the committee to discuss concerns with the bill and talked about the need to amend certain provisions of the bill.

03:22 PM

Representative Gardner made closing comments on the bill and talked about the need for more time to address some concerns over the bill.

03:27 PM

Representative Bradford laid House Bill 12-1319 over.

03:28 PM

The committee adjourned.