S_AGR_2017A 03/15/2017 Committee Summary

11:02 AM -- Confirmation of Tourism Office Board Of Directors — Colorado



Cathy Ritter, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office, introduced the Governor's appointments to the Colorado Tourism Office Board of Directors.



11:03 AM



Jesse Niles True of Dillon, appointed for a term expiring June 1, 2020, and to serve as a representative of the ski industry, discussed/her experience and interest in serving on the Colorado Tourism Office Board of Directors (Attachment A).



170315 AttachA.pdf



11:04 AM



Daniel R. Grunig of Denver, reappointed for a term expiring June 1, 2020, and to serve as a representative of tourism-related retail industry, small community, and small business, discussed his experience and interest in serving on the Colorado Tourism Office Board of Directors (Attachment A).













11:04 AM



Andrea Fulton of Wheat Ridge, reappointed for a term expiring June 1, 2020, and to serve as a representative of private travel attractions and casinos, discussed her experience and interest in serving on the Colorado Tourism Office Board of Directors (Attachment A).

11:07 AM -- HB 17-1152



Senator Scott, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of House Bill 17-1152 concerning federal mineral lease district investment authorities and distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The bill allows a federal mineral lease district (FML district) the option to invest up to 50 percent of the funding the district receives from distributions from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Under current law, all distributions from DOLA to an FML district must be distributed to areas within the district that are socially or economically impacted by the development of minerals or oil and gas operations on federal land. The bill sets certain parameters that the board of an FML district must follow if it chooses to invest a portion of this funding.



170315 AttachB.pdf



The following persons testified remotely on the bill from Colorado Mesa University:



11:09 AM -- Andrew Gorgy, Garfield County Mineral Lease District, spoke in support of the bill and identified mineral lease grants issued by the district.











11:11 AM -- David Ludlam, Western Slope Oil and Gas Association, spoke in support of the bill and identified mineral lease grants issued by the district.



11:13 AM -- Craig Springer, Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District, spoke in support of the bill and identified mineral lease grants issued by the district.



11:14 AM -- John Justman, Mesa County, spoke in support of the bill.



The following persons testified in person on the bill:



11:16 AM -- Dianna Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.



11:18 AM -- Jim Cole, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, spoke in support of the bill.



11:18 AM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Scott closed his remarks on the bill.

11:20 AM -- SB 17-117



Senator Coram, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-117 concerning water rights for industrial hemp production and distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The bill confirms that a person with an absolute or conditional water right decreed for agricultural use can use that water for the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp if the water right holder is registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for commercial or research and development purposes. He also distributed a letter of support for Senate Bill 13-241 (authorizing the Colorado Department of Agriculture to regulate industrial hemp production) from the Dolores Water Conservancy District (Attachment D) and a flyer entitled "the Last Act of Defiance (Attachment E).



170315 AttachC.pdf170315 AttachD.pdf170315 AttachE.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



11:32 AM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the conflict between federal and state law concerning marijuana production.



11:36 AM -- Garin Vorthman, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed a Division 5 water court decision related to marijuana facility (Attachment F), an order from the Division of Water Resources concerning the administration of water rights decreed for irrigation (Attachment G), and a letter from Department of Interior to Bureau of Reclamation contractors concerning the of reclamation project water or federal facilities for hemp and marijuana cultivation (Attachment H). She also spoke in support of Amendment L.001.



170315 AttachF.pdf170315 AttachG.pdf170315 AttachH.pdf



11:39 AM -- Lee Miller, General Counsel, Southeastern Water Conservancy District, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the conflict between federal and state law concerning marijuana production. He also responded to questions from the committee about the allocation of water by the district and marijuana cultivation within the district.



11:56 AM -- Phillip Chavez, Diamond A Farms, spoke in support of the bill and explained that his farm produces alfalfa and hemp. He discussed challenges he has experienced obtaining water for hemp production. He also responded to questions from the committee about his farming practices.





12:02 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram responded to questions from the committee about the bill.

12:07 PM



The committee adjourned.