H_AGR_2018A 04/30/2018 01:32:07 PM Committee Summary

Representatives McLachlan and Catlin, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-042, concerning the creation of the agricultural workforce development program. The bill, recommended by the Young and Beginning Farmers Interim Study Committee, requires the Colorado Department of Agriculture to create by rule an agricultural workforce development program to incentivize agricultural businesses to hire interns by January 1, 2019.  Eligible businesses may be reimbursed up to 50 percent of the costs to employ an intern, including wages, fixed expenses, and other costs.  The program is repealed July 1, 2024.  Representative.McLachlan distributed Amendment L.001 [Attachment A].

Representative Catlin explained the amendment.

Dan Gobel, National Young Farmers Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Representatives Catlin and McLachlan made concluding comments on the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representatives Saine and Pabon, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 18-003 to the committee. The concurrent resolution refers a measure to voters to remove the definition of "industrial hemp" from the Colorado constitution.

Representatives Saine and Pabon responded to questions from the committee regarding the resolution.

Duane Sinning, Colorado Department of Agriculture, responded to questions from the committee regarding the resolution.

Representatives Pabon and Saine mande concluding comments on the resolution.

Representative Arndt presented Senate Bill 18-235, concerning the creation of the Colorado Industrial Hemp Research and Development Authority.  The bill creates the eight member Colorado Industrial Hemp Research and Development Task Force to study whether to create an industrial hemp research and development authority.  The authority would develop, fund, and promote educational, research, and development programs and collaborative efforts concerning industrial hemp.  The task force will include representation from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado, Colorado Mesa University, a nonprofit industrial hemp research and development organization, and three members jointly appointed by the chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture committees.  Task force members serve without compensation.  On or before December 31, 2018, the task force is required to provide a summary of its findings to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.

Duane Sinning, Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Arndt made concluding comments on the bill.

Representatives Arndt and J. Becker, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-239, concerning a licensed chiropractor's ability to perform animal chiropractic on an animal patient.  The bill removes the requirement that a registered animal chiropractor receive medical clearance by a licensed veterinarian to perform animal chiropractic treatment if certain education and training requirements are met. Specifically, the chiropractor must complete a one-hour jurisprudence course concerning the laws, rules, and procedures for the identification and notification of certain contagious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases, and completes an eight-hour course on recognizing the earlier indicators and clinical signs of various diseases in dog and equid patients. The bill sets forth the standards for the course and specifies that a chiropractor is not required to retake the courses to renew or reinstate his or her registration to practice animal chiropractic. In addition, the bill requires that two hours of continuing education, out of the current 20-hour requirement, be focused on contagious, infectious, and zoonotic diseases. When treating an animal patient, the chiropractor must notify the licensed veterinarian treating the animal within seven days, or if there is no veterinarian of record, provide documentation on the treatment to the person bringing the animal for treatment. If a chiropractor suspects that the animal patient has had exposure to or is exhibiting symptoms of certain contagious diseases, he or she must stop treatment and notify the animal's licensed veterinarian and the State Veterinarian in the Department of Agriculture.

Diane Matt, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Matt distributed a handout with background of the bill and the practice of animal chiropractic [Attachment B].

Dr. Rachel Wendt, Colorado Chiropractors Association, testified in support of the bill.

Lori Greenstone, Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Alex Turner, Colorado Department of Agriculture and the State Veternarian's Office, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill.

Representatives Arndt and Becker made concluding comments regarding the bill, and committee discussion ensued.