H_ALW_2022A 04/21/2022 02:53:51 PM Committee Summary

Representative McCluskie, bill sponsor, introduced HB22-1382. The bill creates the Colorado Dark Sky Designation Technical Assistance Grant Program in the Colorado Tourism Office to provide technical assistance grants to applicants applying to the International Dark-Sky Association to have a community or place designated as an International Dark Sky Place. It transfers and continuously appropriates $35,000 from the General Fund to the Colorado Travel and Tourism Additional Source Fund to implement the bill.

The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Aaron Watson, representing Colorado Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Debra Stueber, representing West End Dark Sky Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Andrew Grossmann, representing Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, was available to answer committee questions.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment A.

Representative McCluskie gave final comments on the bill.

Committee members made final comments on the bill.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee came back to order.

Representative McCormick, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced HB22-1379. The bill makes the following transfers totaling $20.0 million from the Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund:

• $3.0 million to the Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities Fund in the Colorado State Forest Service to support wildfire risk mitigation and watershed resilience;
• $2.0 million to the Wildfire Mitigation Capacity Development Fund in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for wildfire mitigation and fuel reduction projects; and
• $15.0 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund in the DNR for watershed restoration and flood mitigation project grants, administering the grant program, and to provide grants and assistance in applying for grants to local governments.

Expenditures from the funds must adhere to the relevant compliance, reporting, record-keeping, and program evaluation requirements established by the Office of State Planning and Budgeting and the State Controller.

Kelly Romero-Heaney, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Esther Vincent, representing Northern Water, testified to amend the bill. Commissioner Richard Cimino, representing Grand County, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Sean Chambers, representing City of Greeley and Cameron Peak Wildfire Recovery Collaborators, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Cimino and Ms. Romero-Heaney responded to questions from the committee.

Representative McCormick introduced and discussed amendment L.001 (Attachment C).

Representative McCormick and Representative Catlin gave final comments on the bill.

Representative Roberts, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Catlin and Representative Roberts gave final comments on the bill.

Committee members made final comments on the bill.