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S_AGR_2021A 03/11/2021 01:29:42 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 03/11/2021
Attendance
Coram X
Fields X
Sonnenberg X
Danielson *
Donovan X
Time 01:29:42 PM to 05:40:27 PM
Place SCR 352
This Meeting was called to order by Donovan
This Report was prepared by Vanessa Reilly
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB21-136 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB21-034 Postponed Indefinitely
SB21-012 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB21-105 Postponed Indefinitely

SB21-034 - Committee Discussion Only


01:33:19 PM  

Senator Coram presented Senate Bill 21-034 to the committee.  The bill refers to voters a proposal to create the Water Resources Financing Enterprise in the Department of Natural Resources to provide financing to water providers.

01:43:26 PM  
Committee questions and discussion followed. The committee discussed the fiscal note for the bill.
01:51:27 PM  

Kathleen Curry, Ute Water Conservancy District, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.

01:56:42 PM  
Drew Beckwith, City of Westminster, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:00:18 PM  
Heather Stauffer, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:02:31 PM  
Senator Donovan laid
the bill over for action until later in the meeting.



SB21-136 - Referred to Senate Appropriations


02:04:05 PM  

Senator Ginal presented Senate Bill 21-136. The Forest Health Advisory Council is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2021. This bill continues the committee until September 1, 2026, following a sunset review.

02:06:10 PM  

Ben Tisdel, Ouray County, testified in support of the bill.



02:11:21 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-136 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Sonnenberg
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields Excused
Sonnenberg Yes
Danielson Excused
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 3   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-034 - Postponed Indefinitely




02:15:37 PM
Motion This is a conceptual amendment. An amendment to do this under existing resources.
Moved Sonnenberg
Seconded
Coram
Fields
Sonnenberg
Danielson
Donovan
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


02:18:24 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-034, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Coram
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields No
Sonnenberg Yes
Danielson No
Donovan No
YES: 2   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


02:19:00 PM
Motion Postpone Senate Bill 21-034 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Fields
Seconded
Coram No
Fields Yes
Sonnenberg No
Danielson Yes
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 3   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-012 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:19:12 PM  

Senator Donovan presented Senate Bill 21-012. The bill prohibits the Wildland Fire Management Section in the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control from disqualifying an applicant for employment solely due to the applicant’s conviction of a felony or other offense involving moral turpitude. Amendment L.002 was distributed (Attachment A).

02:27:00 PM  
Senator Donovan responded
to questions.
02:38:00 PM  
Joel Malecka, Department of Public Safety, testified on the bill.


02:46:31 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Donovan
Seconded
Coram
Fields
Sonnenberg
Danielson
Donovan
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


02:51:13 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-012, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Donovan
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields Yes
Sonnenberg No
Danielson Excused
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 3   NO: 1   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB21-105 - Postponed Indefinitely

03:01:25 PM  
Senator Coram presented
Senate Bill 21-105, along with amendment L.001 (Attachment C).  The
bill introduces additional duties and specificity for the Colorado Parks
and Wildlife Commission concerning the gray wolf reintroduction planning
process currently underway.
03:25:51 PM  
John Murtaugh, representing Defenders of Wildlife, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:33:07 PM  
Delia Malone, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:36:53 PM  
Jacqueline Russell,
representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:37:14 PM  
Gary Skiba, representing San Juan Citizens Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:40:25 PM  

Bonnie Petersen, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified to amend the bill.

03:47:41 PM  
Patrick O'Toole, representing self, testified in a neutral position on the bill.
03:48:22 PM  
Jo Stanko, representing Stanko Ranch, testified in support of the bill.
03:52:57 PM  
Kathleen Curry, representing Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, testified in support of the bill.
03:57:04 PM  
Bonnie Brown, representing Colorado Wool Growers Association, testified in support of the bill.
04:05:13 PM  
County Commissioner Donald Broom, representing Moffat County Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.
04:07:13 PM  
Terri Lamers, representing Snyder Ranches, testified in support of the bill.
04:07:32 PM  
Robbie LeValley, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.
04:12:52 PM  
Commissioner Mike Samson, representing Garfield County Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.
04:13:22 PM  
Janie VanWinkle, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill.
04:18:55 PM  

Philip Anderson, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill.

04:20:11 PM  

Philip Anderson, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill.

04:27:14 PM  
Ben Rogers, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.
04:32:36 PM  
Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke, representing Grand County, testified in support of the bill.
04:32:45 PM  
Callie Hendrickson, representing White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, testified in support of the bill.
04:33:04 PM  
Don Suppes, representing Delta County, testified in support of the bill.
04:35:12 PM  
Terry Fankhauser, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill.
04:38:02 PM  
Coby Corkle, representing Jackson County, testified in support of the bill.
04:48:24 PM  
Gary Moyer, representing Rio Blanco County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill.
04:48:33 PM  
Peter Baier, representing Mesa County, testified in support of the bill.
04:53:22 PM  
Charles Minkler,
Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.
05:03:09 PM  
Alice Crosgrove, Department of Natural Resources, responded to questions.
05:05:13 PM  
Max Nardo, Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee members' questions.
05:08:20 PM  
Senator Sonnenberg distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment D).
05:16:56 PM  
Ms. Cosgrove responded to committee members' questions.
05:19:46 PM  
Austin Vincent, representing the Colorado Farm Bureau, shared the remarks of Zandon Bray, also representing the Colorado Farm Bureau.


05:26:20 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Coram
Seconded
Coram
Fields
Sonnenberg
Danielson Excused
Donovan
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:26:22 PM  

Senator Sonnenberg described amendment L.002.



05:28:12 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Sonnenberg
Seconded
Coram
Fields
Sonnenberg
Danielson Excused
Donovan
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


05:39:43 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-105, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Coram
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields No
Sonnenberg Yes
Danielson No
Donovan No
YES: 2   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


05:40:16 PM
Motion Postpone Senate Bill 21-105 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Fields
Seconded
Coram No
Fields Yes
Sonnenberg No
Danielson Yes
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 3   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


05:40:27 PM   The committee adjourned.