h_agr_2016a_2016-01-25t13:29:44z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/25/2016

01:30 PM -- Sunset Hearing on Vessel Registration Program



Jery Payne, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), introduced himself and explained the sunset process.



01:32 PM



Brian Tobias, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), introduced himself and explained the sunset process in more detail and described the functions of the different sections of DORA's sunset review reports. The committee discussed the sunset process.



01:38 PM



Mr. Tobias discussed the sunset report regarding the Vessel Registration Program within Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Staff distributed the Vessel Registration Program Sunset Report (Attachment A) and the draft bill for the Vessel Registration Program (Attachment B). Mr. Tobias described the different types of registration of vessels and vessels that are exempt from registration. Unless exempted, any vessel operated on the waters of Colorado or at a vessel staging area must be registered with CPW and display that registration on the vessel's bow. Mr. Tobias described the uses for funds raised through the program, including CPW's boating safety activities and recreational boating facilities. Additionally, funds generated by the program are used in the U.S. Coast Guard's calculations for federal matching funds under the Federal Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program. Mr. Tobias stated that DORA recommends that the vessel registration program should be continued indefinitely and explained the reasoning behind that recommendation. He also explained two technical recommendations and responded to questions from the committee.



160125 AttachA.pdf160125 AttachB.pdf



01:50 PM



Jery Payne, OLLS, clarified the sunset process for the committee.



The following persons testified on the Sunset Report of the Vessel Registration Program:



01:52 PM -- Kris Wallers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, testified in support of the indefinite continuation of the program.



01:55 PM -- Kellen Friedlander, Colorado Marine Dealers Association (CMDA), testified in support of the vessel registration program.



02:02 PM



The committee discussed Amendment #1 to the draft bill regarding the vessel registration program (Attachment C). The committee recessed.



160125 AttachC.pdf



02:06 PM



The committee came back to order, and the committee discussed Amendment #1.

02:10 PM



The committee recessed.





02:12 PM



The committee came back to order

02:13 PM



Mr. Payne requested that the committee give OLLS permission to make technical changes to the draft bill before introduction, and the committee had no objection. Representative Vigil assigned Representative Mitsch Bush to be the prime sponsor of the bill. Representatives Brown, KC Becker, Danielson, Lebsock, and Ginal volunteered to be cosponsors of the bill.