Date: 02/18/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1233

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1233, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:48 PM -- House Bill 09-1233

Representative Vigil, prime sponsor, presented his bill concerning the recognition of acequias and authorizing acequia water districts. He described the bill including the strike below amendment L001 (Attachment D) that changes the bill from authorizing acequia to be a water district to a mutual ditch. Representative Vigil provided some historical background on acequias and why a bill was needed.

090218AttachD.pdf

The following individuals testified:

03:54 PM -- David Robbins, Colorado Water Congress and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, testified that the Water Congress voted unanimously to support the bill with the amendment. He explained that L001 changes the way acequias are recognized and focuses instead on the mutual ditch statutes using the terms and conditions that are important to the community. He explained that the bill would not change the priorities of any of the ditches. Mr. Robbins explained the difference between a water conservancy and a mutual ditch and described the history of acequias ditches.

04:03 PM -- Joe Gallegos, San Luis People's Ditch, testified in favor of the bill. He described his family's history in founding the San Luis People's Ditch and the differing practices among farmers who use acequias ditches. He indicated that there is consensus among the acequis ditch owners in support of this bill. He indicated that he would prefer that acequias were recognized as water conservancy districts, but that the community is content with the amendment because they see it as a step in the right direction.

04:09 PM -- Dr. Devon G. Pena, San Luis People's Ditch and a professor at the University of Washington, testified in support of the bill, but expressed some concerns about the amendment. He provided some historical background on the acequia culture. He also described the ecosystem services and economic impacts of acequias farming.

04:24 PM -- John McClure, Costilla County Conservancy District, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the bill only affects four counties and that he does not see a downside to recognizing acequias.

BILL:HB09-1233
TIME: 04:27:48 PM
MOVED:Vigil
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Solano
VOTE
Gardner C.
Hullinghorst
Excused
Labuda
Looper
McKinley
McNulty
Pace
Solano
Sonnenberg
Tipton
Vigil
Fischer
Curry
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:28 PM

Mr. Robbins answered a question from the committee about the structure of the acequia and whether it would establish a board with elected members. Mr. Robbins explained how the acequia allows each person on the ditch one vote, or however they choose to establish their bylaws.


BILL:HB09-1233
TIME: 04:32:45 PM
MOVED:Vigil
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1233, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Fischer
VOTE
Gardner C.
Yes
Hullinghorst
Excused
Labuda
Yes
Looper
Yes
McKinley
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Pace
Yes
Solano
Yes
Sonnenberg
Excused
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Curry
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS