Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:04/02/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:12:08 PM to 12:23 PM
Acree
X
Bradford
X
Place:HCR 0111
Liston
X
McKinley
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Middleton
*
Representative Peniston
Schafer S.
X
Tipton
*
This Report was prepared by
Vigil
*
Raegan Robb
Waller
X
Soper
X
Peniston
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB09-018Postponed Indefinitely

12:08 PM

The committee chair, Representative Peniston, called the meeting to order.

12:09 PM -- Senate Bill 09-018

Representatives Scanlan and King, co-prime sponsors, 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. Representatives King and Scanlan made introductory remarks about the bill. Representative King explained that the grant program funding in Senate Bill 09-018 was addressed in House Bill 09-1199 and requested that the committee postpone Senate Bill 09-018 indefinitely. Representative Scanlan discussed House Bill 09-1199, which is an omnibus bill for fire hazard preparedness in the state, and explained the need to postpone Senate Bill 09-018 indefinitely.

12:12 PM

Paul Cooke, Director, Colorado State Fire Chiefs, spoke in support of the bill and explained that funding needs addressed in Senate Bill 09-018 were also in House Bill 09-1199. He discussed the fire danger in the state and the importance of mitigating fire hazards.

12:14 PM

Tom Wardle, Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), spoke in support of the bill and talked about the need to protect communities that have a high risk of wildfire. Mr. Wardle responded to questions from the committee concerning the use of state inmate programs for fire mitigation, suppression and forest health programs. Mr. Wardle discussed the programs and the relationship between the Department of Corrections and CSFS.

12:22 PM

Representatives King and Scanlan made closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB09-018
TIME: 12:22:34 PM
MOVED:Middleton
MOTION:Moved to postpone Senate Bill 09-018 indefinitely. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Acree
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Waller
Yes
Soper
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:23 PM

The committee adjourned.