Date: 02/05/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-018

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt a conceptual amendment to allow the Colorado
Adopt a conceptual amendment to include building c
Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The motion
Refer Senate Bill 09-018, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
TIE
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



11:05 AM -- Senate Bill 09-018

Senator Mike Kopp, co-prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-018, which requires the Colorado State Forest Service to develop and implement a grant program for the purpose of mitigating wildfires. Senator Schwartz distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment F). Senator Kopp made introductory remarks about the bill and spoke to Amendment L.002 (Attachment G), which reduces the fiscal impact of the bill. Senator Kopp addressed a question about forest health in Colorado.

The following people testified on the bill:

11:16 AM -- Mr. Rich Homann, representing the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Homann gave an overview of the bill and explained the need for wildfire mitigation in Colorado's forests. He told the committee the CSFS is currently using all resources available for mitigation and that if the bill were enacted, the CSFS would need additional resources in order to perform any additional mitigation. In response to a question, Mr. Homann told the committee that the CSFS is in the process of completing a state forest inventory.

11:23 AM -- Chief Chris Riley, representing the Colorado State Fire Chiefs, spoke in support of the bill. Committee members received a list of reasons the Colorado State Fire Chiefs support the bill (Attachment H). Chief Riley said the bill is about being proactive and preventing a catastrophic forest fire event in Colorado. In response to a question, Chief Riley said that fire fighting resources are extremely limited in many states, including Colorado. Discussion ensued.

11:31 AM -- Chief Jeff Berino, representing the Summit County Wildfire Council, spoke in support of the bill. Chief Berino said that Summit County has recognized the direct benefits of matching grants to mitigate wildfire risk in the community. He explained that the bill is meant, in part, to create defensible space around homes.

11:36 AM -- Mr. Gary Severson, representing the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments and the Colorado Bark Beetle Cooperative, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Severson said that there are many communities at risk of forest fire in northwestern Colorado. He said that he is supportive of a 40 percent match from local governments for mitigation grants. Mr. Severson asked for clarification about the language of the bill and answered questions about the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.

11:43 AM -- Ms. Kelly Causey and Mr. David Beutolatus , representing Mile High Youth Corps, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Beutolatus talked about some of his experiences with the Mile High Youth Corps.

03:10 PM

Senator Kopp spoke to Amendment L.001.
BILL:SB09-018
TIME: 11:49:56 AM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-018, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
Yes
Foster
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Prior to the vote, Senator Gibbs, co-prime sponsor, made concluding remarks about the bill and showed the committee a map detailing the Colorado mountain pine beetle epidemic from 1996 to 2007. Senator Kopp also made some concluding remarks about the bill.

BILL:SB09-018
TIME: 11:57:55 AM
MOVED:Newell
MOTION:Adopt a conceptual amendment to include building code and land use recommendations to further mitigate the risk of wildifires. After further discussion, Senator Newell withdrew her motion.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Hodge
Kester
Lundberg
Newell
Foster
Schwartz
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE

Discussion ensued about the need for building code and land use recommendations to further mitigate the risk of wildfires. The bill sponsors said that there is a need for legislation addressing this concern, but the conceptual amendment does not fit under the title of the bill.


BILL:SB09-018
TIME: 11:50:38 AM
MOVED:Lundberg
MOTION:Adopt a conceptual amendment to allow the Colorado State Forest Service to use up to 3 percent of the annual appropriation for high-risk communities wildfire mitigation grants for administrative costs. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Hodge
Kester
Lundberg
Newell
Foster
Schwartz
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Prior to the vote, Senator Kopp explained the conceptual amendment.
BILL:SB09-018
TIME: 11:50:39 AM
MOVED:Hodge
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Hodge
Kester
Lundberg
Newell
Foster
Schwartz
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Prior to the vote, Senator Kopp spoke to Amendment L.002.
BILL:SB09-018
TIME: 11:50:26 AM
MOVED:Lundberg
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Hodge
Kester
Lundberg
Newell
Foster
Schwartz
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection




11:59 PM

The committee recessed.