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H_AGR_2017A 03/06/2017 Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Date: 03/06/2017
ATTENDANCE
Time: 01:30 PM to 04:28 PM
Buck
X
Catlin
X
Place: HCR 0107
Danielson
*
Esgar
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Hansen
X
Representative Arndt
Lebsock
X
Lewis
X
This Report was prepared by
McKean
X
Meghan O'Connor
Saine
X
Valdez
X
Willett
*
Mitsch Bush
X
Arndt
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB17-1192

HB17-1197

SB17-100

SB17-073

SB17-109
Amended, Referred to House Appropriations

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Referred to the Committee of the Whole



01:30 PM -- HB 17-1192



Speaker Duran and Representative McLachlan, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1192, concerning the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council. The bill repeals the Farm-to-School Coordination Task Force in the Department of Agriculture and combines certain duties of this task force with the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council. The terms of the existing membership of the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council expire under the bill and new membership must be appointed by August 31, 2017. The duties of the council are expanded to include additional collaboration, coordination, and outreach with schools, farmers, food producers, state and federal agencies, consumers, research and data collection on Food Systems and food access, and other tasks to provide advice and assistance to those involved in the Food Systems. The Food Systems Advisory Council is continued beyond its current September 1, 2018, repeal date through September 1, 2022. Speaker Duran and Representative McLachlan responded to questions from the committee.



01:41 PM --
Sarah Kurz, LiveWell Colorado, spoke in support of the bill and distributed letters of support for the bill from agricultural producers and Colorado State University (Attachment A). Ms. Kurz responded to questions from the committee regarding the type of agriculture products that will be a part of the program, the staffing of the advisory council, and the fiscal impact of the bill.



170306 AttachA.pdf170306 AttachA.pdf







01:59 PM



Speaker Duran responded to further questions from the committee regarding the advisory council and discussed similar programs in other states. The speaker also spoke to the fiscal impact of the bill and the reporting requirement in the bill.



02:01 PM --
Yelana Love, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee regarding the sunset date of the advisory council.



02:02 PM --
Allen Lewis, Natural Grocers, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



02:18 PM



Speaker Duran and Representative McLachlan responded to further questions from the committee.



02:22 PM



Mr. Lewis responded to questions concerning the distribution of agricultural products under the advisory council program and how that program helps producers in the state.



02:24 PM --
Meg Caley, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and National Youth Farmers Council, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the benefits of the advisory council.



02:30 PM --
Natalie Leffler, Weld County School District 6, spoke in support of the bill.





02:33 PM



Speaker Duran distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B), and committee discussion ensued.



170306 AttachB.pdf170306 AttachB.pdf

BILL: HB17-1192
TIME: 02:33:31 PM
MOVED: Valdez
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Lebsock
VOTE
Buck
Catlin
Danielson
Esgar
Hansen
Lebsock
Lewis
McKean
Saine
Valdez
Willett
Mitsch Bush
Arndt
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL: HB17-1192
TIME: 02:34:12 PM
MOVED: Esgar
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1192, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-3.
SECONDED: Lebsock
VOTE
Buck
No
Catlin
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Hansen
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Lewis
No
McKean
Yes
Saine
No
Valdez
Yes
Willett
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Arndt
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:39 PM



The committee recessed.



02:40 PM -- HB 17-1197



The committee came back to order. Representative Ginal, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1197, concerning the exclusion of marijuana from the definition of "farm products" with regard to regulation of farm products under the Farm Products Act. Representative Ginal distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment C) and a fact sheet regarding the bill (Attachment D). Under the Farm Products Act, the commissioner of agriculture or his or her designee licenses farm product dealers, small-volume dealers, and their agents. The bill excludes marijuana from the definition of farm products under the act.



170306 AttachC.pdf170306 AttachC.pdf170306 AttachD.pdf170306 AttachD.pdf



02:47 PM --
Hollis Glenn, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill.



02:52 PM --
Mark Gallegos, CDA, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding the inspection of marijuana by the department under the Farm Products Act.

















02:54 PM --
Das Ellis, Hemp Sources, Inc., spoke in opposition to the bill.

BILL: HB17-1197
TIME: 02:59:04 PM
MOVED: Hansen
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Saine
VOTE
Buck
Catlin
Danielson
Esgar
Hansen
Lebsock
Lewis
McKean
Saine
Valdez
Willett
Mitsch Bush
Arndt
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection







02:59 PM



Representative Ginal provided closing comments on the bill.

BILL: HB17-1197
TIME: 03:00:22 PM
MOVED: Saine
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1197, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED: Esgar
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Catlin
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Hansen
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Lewis
Yes
McKean
Yes
Saine
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Willett
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Arndt
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:02 PM -- SB 17-100



Representatives Arndt and Landgraf, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 17-100, concerning qualified immunity for persons performing land stewardship activities on public lands. Representative Landgraf distributed Amendment L.004 (Attachment E) and information regarding the bill from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Attachment F). The bill amends the Colorado Recreational Trails System Act of 1971 to include legal protections for volunteers and nonprofit organizations who perform land stewardship on public lands. The bill provides immunity from civil liability for volunteers for any act or omission that results in damage or injury if the volunteer was acting within the same scope of his or her duties performing land stewardship activities under a grant, unless the damage or injury was caused by gross negligence or a willful and wanton act or omission. A grant, procurement contract, or other agreement concerning the conduct of land stewardship activities cannot differentiate between construction and maintenance for liability purposes or require a nonprofit organization or volunteer to carry completed operations liability coverage.



170306 AttachE.pdf170306 AttachE.pdf170306 AttachF.pdf170306 AttachF.pdf















03:13 PM --
Jerry Aboud, Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition, spoke in support of the bill and discussed insurance requirements for trail construction.



03:18 PM -- Conrad Tucker, Western Slope A.T.V. Association, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a news article regarding the construction of a bridge in Mesa County (Attachment G). Mr. Tucker responded to questions from the committee.



170306 AttachG.pdf170306 AttachG.pdf



03:23 PM --
Tom Morrisey, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



03:29 PM --
Margaret Taylor, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, spoke in support of the bill and addressed previously asked questions from the committee.



03:37 PM



Representative Mitsch Bush closed public testimony, and Representatives Arndt and Landgraf discussed Amendment L.004.

BILL: SB17-100
TIME: 03:37:55 PM
MOVED: Valdez
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.004. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: McKean
VOTE
Buck
Catlin
Danielson
Esgar
Hansen
Lebsock
Lewis
McKean
Saine
Valdez
Willett
Mitsch Bush
Arndt
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection







03:38 PM



Representatives Landgraf and Arndt made closing statements on the bill.

BILL: SB17-100
TIME: 03:38:55 PM
MOVED: Arndt
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 17-100, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED: Buck
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Catlin
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Hansen
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Lewis
Yes
McKean
Yes
Saine
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Willett
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Arndt
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:41 PM -- SB 17-073



Representative Valdez, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-073, concerning promotion of the Runyon-Fountain Lakes State Wildlife Area. The bill requires Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the City of Pueblo, and the Pueblo Conservancy District to work with other stakeholders to engage in a long-term process to promote the beneficial development and maintenance of the Runyon-Fountain State Wildlife Area. This includes development and implementation of a multi-party master plan, exploration of funding sources, and a consideration of options to facilitate operation of the Runyon-Fountatin State Wildlife Area.



03:45 PM --
Doug Vilsak, CPW, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.







03:51 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Representative Valdez closed his comments on the bill.

BILL: SB17-073
TIME: 03:52:01 PM
MOVED: Valdez
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 17-073 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED: Arndt
VOTE
Buck
No
Catlin
No
Danielson
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Hansen
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Lewis
No
McKean
No
Saine
No
Valdez
Yes
Willett
No
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Arndt
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:54 PM -- SB 17-109



Representative Arndt, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-109, concerning the use of industrial hemp in products designed for consumption. The reengrossed bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture to create a working group to study the feasibility of including hemp products in animal feed. The bill identifies the representation required of group members and requires that the group reach its conclusions and make any legislative recommendations by December 31, 2017.



The following persons testified on the bill:



04:00 PM --
Hollis Glenn, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill and discussed how the department would develop the study and the amendments that were made to the bill in the Senate. Mr. Glenn also responded to questions from the committee regarding the type of data that will be collected by the study.



04:11 PM --
Mark Angerhoffer, Craft Concentrates, spoke in support of the bill and stated that he would support an amendment that would include marijuana in the animal feed study.



04:14 PM --
Das Ellis, Hemp Sources, Inc., spoke in support of the bill.













04:21 PM --
Nicholas Dela Vega, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.



04:23 PM --
Danny Williams, Colorado Cattleman's Association, spoke in support of the reengrossed version of the bill and explained that the association was opposed to the introduced version of the bill.



04:26 PM



Representative Arndt concluded her comments on the bill.

BILL: SB17-109
TIME: 04:27:03 PM
MOVED: Arndt
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 17-109 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED: Buck
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Catlin
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Hansen
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Lewis
Yes
McKean
Yes
Saine
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Willett
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Arndt
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:28 PM



The committee adjourned.




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