Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-293

Date: 04/23/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-293

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved Amendment L. 001. The motion passed without Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-293 to the Committee	Pass Without Objection PASS

01:37 PM -- Senate Bill 09-293

Senator Isgar, sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 09-293 concerning the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund. The introduced bill adjusts appropriations in current law to Tier 2 transfers out of the Operational Account to address a projected revenue loss to the fund for FY 2009-10. State law allocates moneys from the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund to two different groups of programs, commonly referred to as Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs. The Tier 2 moneys are primarily used for grants, loans, research, and construction programs that are administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Tier 2 programs include the Water Supply Reserve Account, Forest Health Grants, Soil Conservation District Matching Grants, and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

The following persons testified on the bill:

01:42 PM -- Bill Levine, Department of Natural Resources Budget Director, described transfers from the Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund under current law and how these transfers affect the money available for the Tier 2 programs (Attachment A, Page 1 "Baseline No Legislation"). He explained that under current law, funding for Tier 2 programs must be reduced by 45 percent. He also described options for addressing revenue shortfalls for Tier 2 programs and identified legislation that increase transfers from the Operational Account, thereby reducing revenue available for the Tier 2 programs.

01:50 PM -- Heidi VanHuysen, Department of Natural Resources, commented on Amendment L.001. (Attachment B).

01:54 PM

Senator Isgar explained that Amendment L. 001 adjusts the FY 2009-10 transfers from Operational Account of the Severance Tax Trust Fund to the Water Supply Reserve Account and the Low Income Energy Assistance Fund.

01:54 PM -- Ms. VanHuysen explained the information in a spreadsheet concerning the transfers from the Operational Account according to the introduced Senate Bill 09-293 (Attachment A, Page 5) and the transfers if Amendment L. 001 is adopted (Attachment A, Page 7). She explained how Amendment L.001 would affect transfers for forest health programs that are expected to receive additional federal moneys. She also described the moneys available for the Water Supply Reserve Account and Water Efficiency Grant Fund.

02:01 PM -- Gary Barber, El Paso County Water Authority, Chair of the Arkansas Basin Roundtable, explained how the roundtable used Operational Account moneys transferred to Water Supply Reserve Account.

02:04 PM -- Jim Miller, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill and described how conservation districts used the moneys appropriated in House Bill 06-1393 for conservation districts. This grants program provides moneys to local conservation districts to help them compete for matching federal dollars available for technical assistance in addressing various conservation concerns.

02:06 PM -- Julie McKenna, Colorado Water congress, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the Denver Water Department, spoke in support of the bill and described the need to fund the control of aquatic invasive species such as the zebra mussels that can damage pipes and other water infrastructure.

02:08 PM -- Troy Bredenkamp, Colorado Farm Bureau, explained that the Board of Directors of the Colorado Farm Bureau has not taken a position on the bill. However, he expressed tentative support for the bill. He also expressed concern about Amendment L. 001.


BILL:	SB09-293
TIME:	02:10:34 PM
MOVED:	Isgar
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L. 001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy
	Gibbs
	Harvey
	Kester
	Schwartz
	Hodge
	Isgar

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

02:12 PM

Committee discussion followed about funding for Low-Income Energy Assistance. Harris Sherman, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, responded to questions from the committee about cuts to other programs administered by the department.


BILL:	SB09-293
TIME:	02:18:29 PM
MOVED:	Isgar
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-293 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. 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