Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (04/22/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	04/22/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:44 AM to 10:46 AM	Brophy	X
		Gibbs	X
Place:	SCR 353	Harvey	E*
		Kester	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Schwartz	X
	Senator Isgar	Hodge	X
		Isgar	X
This Report was prepared by
	David Beaujon
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1320 Conf 09-Colorado Water Conservation Board HB09-1017		Amended, Referred to Appropriations Favorably Refer to the Full Senate Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources

09:46 AM -- House Bill 09-1320

Senator White, sponsor, described the provision of House Bill 09-1320 that was recommended by the Joint Budget Committee (Attachment A) and he distributed Amendment L. 003 (Attachment B). The reengrossed bill increases annual fees for dairy licenses and permits to fully cash fund the program. Specifically, it increases the fee from $3 to $50 for a license to sample or test dairy products; increases the fee from $10 up to $1,600 (based on the daily amount of production) for an annual permit to operate a dairy plant; and it establishes a $300 fee for transfer or receive stations.

The following persons testified on the bill.

09:47 AM -- Jeff Lawrence, Consumer Protection Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, described the regulation of dairies by the division and how the program is funded under current law. He spoke in support of the bill and described how the additional revenue would be used by the division. He also responded to questions from the committee about the need for the fee increase and the regulation of dairy production.

09:52 AM -- Brock Herzberg, Dairy Farmers of America, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee about the impact of the fee increase on the dairy industry.

09:55 AM

Senator White requested that the committee approve Amendment L. 003.


BILL:	HB09-1320
TIME:	09:55:27 AM
MOVED:	Hodge
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L. 003. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy
	Gibbs
	Harvey	Excused
	Kester
	Schwartz
	Hodge
	Isgar

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1320
TIME:	09:56:08 AM
MOVED:	Hodge
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1320 to the Committee on Appropriations, as amended. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Excused
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Isgar	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

09:56 AM -- Consideration of Governor's appointment to the Colorado Water Conservation Board

Senator Isgar welcomed the Governor's appointment to the Colorado Water Conservation Board and invited them to describe their experience and interest in servicing on the Board (Attachment C).

09:56 AM

Harris Sherman, Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources, introduced the Governor's appointments to the Colorado Water Conservation Board and spoke in support of their appointment.

10:00 AM

Eric W. Wilkinson of Greeley, Colorado, described his experience and interest in serving on the Board. Mr. Wilkinson is reappointed for a term expiring February 12, 2012 as a resident of the South Platte drainage basin and a Republican.

10:03 AM

Carl Trick II of Cowdrey, Colorado, described his experience and interest in serving on the Board. Mr. Trick is reappointed for a term expiring February 12, 2012, as a resident of the North Platte drainage basin and
a Republican.

10:05 AM

John H. McClow of Gunnison, Colorado, described his experience and interest in serving on the Board. Mr. McClow is appointed for a term expiring February 12, 2012 as a resident of the Gunnison-Uncompahgre drainage basin.

10:09 AM

The appointees responded to questions from the committee about how to satisfy growing demand for water for municipal supplies and oil shale production without impacting agriculture and other water users. They also responded to questions about the need to address forest health issues and how to protect watersheds from catastrophic wild fires related to the beetle infestation.

10:22 AM

Jennifer Gimbel, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, spoke in support of the Governor's appointments.


BILL:	Conf 09-Colorado Water Conservation Board
TIME:	10:23:17 AM
MOVED:	Hodge
MOTION:	Moved to refer to the full Senate with favorable recommendations the following Governor's appointment to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for terms expiring February 12, 2012: Eric W. Wilkinson of Greeley, Colorado, Carl Trick II of Cowdrey, Colorado, and John H. McClow of Gunnison, Colorado. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Isgar	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:24 AM -- House Bill 09-1017

Senator Hodge, sponsor, described the provision of House Bill 09-1017. The reengrossed bill specifies that moneys in the Water Efficiency Grant Program Cash Fund are continuously appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) for the grant program. Moneys are available until the projects financed are completed or until June 30, 2012, whichever comes first.

The following persons testified on the bill:

10:26 AM -- Veva Deheza, CWCB, spoke in support of the bill and described the potential beneficiaries of water efficiency grant moneys. She also responded to questions from the committee about the requirements for grant recipients to have adopted water conservation plans.

10:29 AM -- Emily Coll, Castle Pines Metropolitan District, spoke in support of the bill.

10:31 AM -- Brenda O'Brien, Green Industries of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill and described a grant her organization received from the CWCB to develop best management practices for landscape irrigation.

10:35 AM -- Drew Beckwith, Western Resource Advocates, spoke in support of the bill. He also explained that the Colorado Environmental Coalition supports the bill (Attachment D).

10:38 AM -- Tracy Bouvette, Great Western Institute, spoke in support of the bill.

10:40 AM -- Chris Piper, Denver Water Department, spoke in support of the bill.

10:41 AM -- Peter Mayer, Aqucraft, Inc., spoke in support of the bill.

10:42 AM -- Wesley LaVanchy, Town of Firestone, spoke in support of the bill.

Mike Berry, General Manager of the Tri County Water Conservancy District, submitted a letter of support for the bill (Attachment E).

10:44 AM

The committee recessed.


BILL:	HB09-1017
TIME:	10:44:31 AM
MOVED:	Hodge
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1017 to the Committee on Appropriations, without amendment. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Isgar	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:46 AM

The committee adjourned.