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h_lg_2016a_2016-05-04t13:34:01z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/04/2016



Final

BILL SUMMARY for SB16-097



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT


Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 16-097 to the Committee on Finan PASS







03:07 PM -- SB16-097



Representative Coram presented and summarized Senate Bill 16-097 concerning use mineral severance revenue for local governments. Beginning January 1, 2016, this bill places restrictions on transferring money from various mineral related cash funds to the General Fund. Specifically, the bill prohibits transfers to the General Fund from the following cash funds (collectively referred to in the bill as the mineral severance fund): the Higher Education Federal Mineral Lease Revenues Fund; the Higher Education Maintenance and Reserve Fund; the Local Government Permanent Fund; the Local Government Mineral Impact Fund; and the Local Government Severance Tax Fund. The bill prohibits the Governor from restricting the use of money in any of these funds to save money for a future transfer to the General Fund. The bill also limits the Governor's and the Joint Budget Committee's ability to use money in these funds for purposes not authorized in current law or that does not benefit the political subdivisions impacted by the severance of minerals.



Representative Coram answered questions from the committee regarding the transferring of severance tax money.





03:17 PM



Representative Coram continued to answer questions from the committee.



03:20 PM --
Mark Ruzzin, representing Boulder County, spoke in opposition to the bill.



03:26 PM --
Kevin Bommer, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the impact to local governments regarding the transfer of severance tax dollars.



03:39 PM --
Richard Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill.



03:41 PM --
Gini Pingenot, Colorado Counties, Inc., spoke in favor of the bill. She answered questions from the committee regarding the legislative declaration in the bill and the restriction on the use of severance taxes.



03:47 PM --
Evan Goulding, Special District Association, spoke in favor of the bill.



03:53 PM --
Stan Dempsey, Colorado Petroleum Association, was neutral on the bill. He discussed the distribution of severance tax dollars.



Representative Coram provided closing comments on the bill.





04:03 PM



The committee members provided closing comments on the bill.

BILL: SB16-097
TIME: 04:04:56 PM
MOVED: Saine
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 16-097 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 7-4.
SECONDED: Ransom
VOTE
Arndt
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Klingenschmitt
Yes
Navarro
Yes
Ransom
Yes
Rosenthal
No
Saine
Yes
Singer
No
Thurlow
Yes
Lebsock
No
Fields
No
YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS







04:10 PM



The committee adjourned.




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