First Regular Session Sixty-ninth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 13-0987.01 Jennifer Berman x3286SENATE BILL 13-275 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Hodge, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP (None), Senate Committees House Committees Local Government A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the creation of an interim committee of the general assembly to review matters relating to pipeline safety. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill creates the pipeline safety review committee as an interim committee of the general assembly (committee) to address issues of pipeline safety and to review and propose legislation relating to such matters. The committee is required to meet up to 6 times during the interim to review, and propose legislation and other policy changes about, safety regulations and regulatory structures with respect to oil and gas pipelines. The committee consists of 11 members, including 10 members of the general assembly, with 5 members of the house of representatives and 5 members of the senate, and one member appointed by the governor. The bill specifies the manner in which appointments are to be made and additional requirements relating to the members' service on the committee. The committee is repealed on July 1, 2014. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 34-60-130 as follows: 34-60-130. Pipeline safety review committee - creation - legislative declaration - repeal. (1) Legislative declaration. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that: (a) Colorado is experiencing new and unprecedented levels of oil and gas exploration and production activities; (b) The safe and efficient movement of oil and gas products to Colorado and other markets is imperative to the well-being of Colorado, its citizens, and the oil and gas industry; and (c) Pipelines are a major component of the transportation system for the movement of oil and gas products. (2) The purpose of this section is to provide an interim committee as a forum through which the general assembly reviews state policies addressing pipeline safety and the implementation and execution of the policies. In creating an interim committee to address matters relating to pipeline safety, the general assembly intends that issues relating to pipeline safety receive sufficient legislative scrutiny and public participation. (3) Pipeline safety review committee. (a) To address pipeline safety and to review and propose legislation relating to pipeline safety, the pipeline safety review committee is hereby created, and is referred to in this section as the "committee". The committee shall meet publicly at the call of the chair up to six times during the 2013 interim between the first and second regular sessions of the sixty-ninth general assembly to review and to propose legislation or other policy changes relating to pipeline safety. The committee may consult with experts in all fields relating to pipeline safety as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of this section. All personnel of any state agency or political subdivision of Colorado involved in pipeline safety shall cooperate with the committee and with any person assisting the committee in carrying out its duties pursuant to this section. (b) The committee's duties are to: (I) Convene stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, regulated industry, local government, and other interested parties; (II) Request briefings from agencies with regulatory authority over oil and gas pipelines, including the commission, the pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration, the Colorado public utilities commission, and the federal energy regulation commission regarding the nature, scope, and details of current safety regulations in place with respect to oil and gas pipelines; (III) Request information from other sources, including the association of oil pipe lines, the natural gas association, Colorado counties, inc., the Colorado municipal league, and health and environmental sources; (IV) Determine if existing regulatory structures in Colorado sufficiently protect public health, safety, the environment, and wildlife; and (V) Consider other issues as needed. (c) The committee consists of eleven members, including ten members of the general assembly, selected as follows: (I) From the senate: (A) Three members appointed by the president of the senate; and (B) Two members appointed by the minority leader of the senate; (II) From the house of representatives: (A) Three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (B) Two members appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and (III) One member appointed by the governor. (d) The leadership of the senate and the house of representatives and the governor shall make their appointments pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (3) no later than thirty days after adjournment sine die of the first regular session of the sixty-ninth general assembly. (e) After selecting members of the committee pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (3), the president of the senate shall select one senator from the senators selected to serve on the committee to serve as co-chair of the committee and the speaker of the house of representatives shall select one representative from the house of representatives selected to serve on the committee to serve as co-chair of the committee. (f) Members of the committee serve without compensation; except that each member: (I) Is entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses in connection with the performance of his or her duties; and (II) Receives the same per diem as other members of interim committees for attendance at meetings. (g) (I) The committee may propose up to three bills to the legislative council. (II) The committee shall consider all bills drafted for the committee's approval no later than October 28, 2013. (III) The committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the legislative council no later than November 11, 2013. (IV) Upon request by the committee, staff of the legislative council, in collaboration with staff of the office of legislative legal services, shall prepare and attach summaries of dissenting opinions to the findings and recommendations adopted by the committee. The dissenting opinions must accompany the findings and recommendations submitted by the committee to the legislative council. (4) Repeal. This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2014. SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.