S_AGR_2018A 01/31/2018 09:40:40 AM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGJOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Date 01/31/2018 Attendance Baumgardner E Becker J. X Buck E Catlin E Cooke X Coram X Danielson X Donovan X Esgar X Fenberg X Fields X Garcia X Hansen X Jackson E Jones E Lewis X Marble E McKean X Roberts X Saine E Scott X Valdez X Arndt E Sonnenberg X Time 09:40:40 AM to 10:33:08 AM Place RM 271 This Meeting was called to order by Sonnenberg This Report was prepared by David Beaujon Hearing Items Action Taken hJoint meeting with the Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25 Committee Discussion Only hPresentation from Fiscal Note Staff Committee Discussion Only Joint meeting with the Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25 - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2018A/commsumm.nsf/0/3401816D3F36...$File/180131 AttachA.pdf?OpenElement 180131 AttachA.pdf Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2018A/commsumm.nsf/0/5A62E20CE13C...$File/180131 AttachB.pdf?OpenElement 180131 AttachB.pdf 09:45:51 AM Representative Rankin, member of the Joint Budget Committee, introduced other JBC members and JBC staff attending today's meeting. 09:46:18 AM Representative Rankin discussed the Colorado Department of Agriculture's FY 2018-19 budget request. For FY 2018-19, the department is requesting 292 full time equivalent (FTE) employees and $51.6 million including $11 million General Fund, $34.2 million cash funds, and $3.9 federal funds [Attachment A]. The departmentâs FY 2017-18 appropriation represents approximately 0.2 percent of statewide operating appropriations and 0.1 percent of statewide General Fund appropriations. The Department of Agriculture regulates, promotes and supports various agricultural activities throughout Colorado. Department personnel perform a wide range of services including: regulatory and inspection services relating to agriculture; investigations and hearings; standardizing, grading, inspecting, labeling, handling, storage, and marketing of agricultural products; and agriculture-related policy analysis. 09:47:11 AM Representative Rankin discussed the Colorado Department of Natural Resource's FY 2018-19 budget request. The department is requesting 1,462 full time equivalent (FTE) employees and $257 million including $28.9 million General Fund, $193 million cash funds, and $27.1 million federal funds [Attachment B]. The Departmentâs FY 2016-17 appropriation represents 0.9 percent of statewide operating appropriations and 0.3 percent of statewide General Fund appropriations. DNR is responsible for developing, protecting, and enhancing Coloradoâs natural resources for the use and enjoyment of present and future residents and visitors. 09:48:02 AM Representative Rankin responded to questions from the committee about legislation to continue funding for the Colorado Energy Office. 09:49:28 AM Senator Lundberg discussed the Department of Agriculture FY 2018-19 request for one additional full time equivalent employee to assist with federal land management issues. Committee discussion followed about how this position will be funded and federal land management issues. 09:57:36 AM Representative Rankin explained how severance tax revenue funds programs and activities of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and discussed recent declines in this revenue. He explained that additional General Fund revenue may need to be transferred to the department in FY 2018-19 to offset declines in severance tax revenue. Committee discussion followed about changes to the budget process that may help address the volatility of severance tax revenue. 10:15:46 AM The committee discussed prior transfers of severance taxes to the General Fund and potential measures to limit future transfers. . Since 1996, a net of $157.5 million has been transferred from DNRâs two main severance tax cash funds to the General Fund. This includes $130.9 million transferred from the Perpetual Base Fund and $26.6 transferred from the Operational Fund. 10:20:36 AM Representative Rankin explained that the state is projected to receive additional tax revenue during FY 2018-19 as a result of recent changes to federal tax law. He also identified potential appropriations of this revenue for education, transportation, increasing reserves, and implementing the Colorado Water Plan. Presentation from Fiscal Note Staff - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2018A/commsumm.nsf/0/F39EF532AB4D...$File/180131 AttachC.pdf?OpenElement 180131 AttachC.pdf 10:27:00 AM Clare Pramuk, Fiscal Analyst, provided an overview of the new fiscal note format [Attachment C]. She also introduced fiscal note staff who typically draft fiscal notes for agriculture and natural resources legislation. 10:33:08 AM Committee Adjourned