h_agr_2016a_2016-05-02t13:30:00z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/02/2016

01:30 PM -- HB 16-1458



Representative Vigil and Representative Coram, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 16-1458, concerning measures to effectuate the conservation of native species in Colorado. The bill appropriates $3 million from the Species Conservation Trust Fund for programs submitted by the director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that are designated to conserver native species that have been listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal law, or are likely to become candidate species as determined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Committee discussion ensued regarding the bill.



The following persons testified on the bill:



01:35 PM -- Bill Levine, Budget Director, DNR, spoke in support of the bill and explained how the projects will be funded. Mr. Levine also discussed Senate Bill 16-167, which lowers the reserve requirement in the Severance Tax Operational Fund.



01:39 PM -- Jeff Versteeg, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, spoke in support of the bill and described some of the projects in the bill.



01:43 PM



Mr. Levine and Mr. Versteeg responded to questions from the committee.



01:46 PM -- Bruce Whitehead, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.



01:48 PM



Representative Vigil and Representative Coram made concluding comments on the bill.