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S_AGR_2017A 03/23/2017 Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY

Date: 03/23/2017
ATTENDANCE
Time: 01:32 PM to 04:42 PM
Cooke
*
Coram
X
Place: SCR 357
Donovan
X
Fenberg
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Fields
X
Senator Sonnenberg
Garcia
X
Jones
*
This Report was prepared by
Marble
X
David Beaujon
Scott
X
Baumgardner
X
Sonnenberg
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB17-1197

HB17-1070

SB17-047

HB17-1116
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar

Amended, Referred to Senate Appropriations

Postponed Indefinitely

Referred to Senate Appropriations



01:33 PM -- SB 17-047



Senator Coram, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-047 concerning additional incentives for the beneficial use of waste tires. He distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A) that strikes everything below the enacting clause and a memorandum that discuss the fiscal impact of the amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The bill modifies the state's waste tire management system by updating the waste tire fee ranges and fund allocation schedule in current statute and set by the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission within the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDHPE).



170323 AttachA.pdf170323 AttachA.pdf170323 AttachB.pdf170323 AttachB.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



01:42 PM -- Derrick Dease, Lafarge Holcim, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed how his company uses waste tires for fuel and other purposes. He also responded to questions from the committee about potential markets for scrap tires and the capacity of his company to process waste tires.



01:48 PM --
John Sheerin, Rubber Manufacturers Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and explained how his company helps states implement scrap tire programs. He also responded to questions from the committee about potential markets for scrap tires and policies in other states to promote beneficial uses of waste tires.







02:03 PM --
Joe Schieffelin, Colorado Department Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), discussed the use of waste tire fees collected by the department and explained that the department is neutral on Amendment L.001.



02:05 PM --
Brian Gaboriau, Project Manager for CDPHE Tetra Tech team, responded to questions from the committee about use of waste tires in Colorado and grants issued to promote beneficial uses of tires.



02:22 PM --
Chris Webb, RGen Systems, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company uses waste tires. He also discussed how the waste tire rebate helps promote the beneficial use of waste tires.



02:25 PM --
Rodney Buckaleu, CH2E, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company transports waste tires for CH2E.



02:28 PM --
Theresa Immel, Colorado Tire Recycling, spoke in support of the bill and explained how her company collects and beneficially uses waste tires.



02:37 PM --
Roger Freeman, Tire Issues, spoke in support of the bill and read testimony from Alek Orloff, Alpine Waste Recycling, who also supports the bill.

.

02:41 PM --
Rick Welle IV, RubbErosion, Inc., spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company uses waste tires to control erosion from construction areas.



02:43 PM --
Rick Welle III, Front Range Tire Recycle, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company beneficially uses waste tires. He also responded to questions from the committee about potential markets for scrap tires on the west slope of Colorado.



02:52 PM --
Scott Hutchings, Waste Management, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company beneficially uses waste tires. He also responded to questions from the committee about the impact of full tires on the life of landfills.



02:52 PM --
Jamie Kostura, CH2E, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company beneficially uses waste tires.



02:55 PM --
Gina Nance, GCC America, spoke in support of the bill and explained how her company beneficially uses waste tires to produce cement.



03:00 PM --
Gabriel Stepp, Hunter Ridge Farm, spoke in support of the bill and explained how her farm and feedlot beneficially uses waste tires.



03:03 PM --
Vern Tharp, CH2E, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company beneficially uses waste tires.



03:06 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram closed his remarks on the bill.









03:08 PM



The bill was laid over to later in the meeting and the meeting recessed.






03:08 PM -- HB 17-1197



The committee returned from recess. Senator Coram, prime sponsor, described the provisions of House Bill 17-1197 concerning the exclusion of marijuana from farm products definition. The Colorado Farm Products Act (act) requires that businesses purchasing and storing agricultural products be licensed and bonded by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). This bill excludes marijuana from the definition of farm products in the act, thereby exempting marijuana businesses from the licensing and bonding requirements.



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:10 PM --
Hollis Glenn, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill.



03:13 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram closed his remarks on the bill.

BILL: HB17-1197
TIME: 03:14:31 PM
MOVED: Coram
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1197 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Coram
Yes
Donovan
Yes
Fenberg
Yes
Fields
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jones
Yes
Marble
Excused
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS







03:16 PM -- HB 17-1070



Senator Coram and Senator Donovan, co-prime sponsors, discussed the provisions of House Bill 17-1079 concerning the study of drone use by public safety agencies and distributed Amendment L.008 (Attachment C). This bill, as amended by the House Judiciary Committee, requires the Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology and Aerial Firefighting (Center of Excellence) in the Department of Public Safety to conduct a study on the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within state and local government firefighting operations. This bill also creates a UAS pilot program and authorizes the Department of Labor and Employment to provide resources for the training and development of eligible pilot program members. On or before September 1, 2018, the results of the study and the pilot program are to be submitted to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee and the Judiciary committees of the General Assembly. Both the study and the pilot project are conditional upon receipt of sufficient gifts, grants, and donations.



170323 AttachC.pdf170323 AttachC.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:21 PM --
Melissa Lineberger, Department of Public Safety, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a fact sheet supporting the bill that was prepared by the Department of Public Safety (Attachment D).



170323 AttachD.pdf170323 AttachD.pdf



03:25 PM -- Wendell Pryor, Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Pryor explained that local governments are already using drones, and discussed the benefits of the legislation.



03:28 PM --
Sean McClung, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.



03:31 PM --
Chris Linsmayer, Colorado Ski Country USA, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the use of drones for search and rescue activities.



03:33 PM --
Richard Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill.







03:34 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram and Senator Donovan closed their remarks on the bill.

BILL: HB17-1070
TIME: 03:34:44 PM
MOVED: Donovan
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.008. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection













03:35 PM



Senator Jones distributed Amendment L.009 (Attachment E) and Amendment L.010 (Attachment F).



170323 AttachE.pdf170323 AttachE.pdf170323 AttachF.pdf170323 AttachF.pdf

BILL: HB17-1070
TIME: 03:36:08 PM
MOVED: Jones
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.009. This motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:




BILL: HB17-1070
TIME: 03:40:57 PM
MOVED: Jones
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.010. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: HB17-1070
TIME: 03:43:58 PM
MOVED: Jones
MOTION: This is a conceptual amendment. Page 5, line 6, strike "THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF", line 7, strike "REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE," and substitute "HOUSE AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND SENATE AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ENERGY COMMITTEE. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:







03:45 PM



The committee recessed.



03:47 PM



The committee returned from recess.

BILL: HB17-1070
TIME: 03:47:44 PM
MOVED: Donovan
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1070, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Coram
Yes
Donovan
Yes
Fenberg
Yes
Fields
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jones
Yes
Marble
Yes
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS







03:49 PM -- SB 17-047



Testimony on this bill occurred at the beginning of this meeting. The chair closed testimony and laid the bill over, unamended.

BILL: SB17-047
TIME: 03:49:36 PM
MOVED: Coram
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL: SB17-047
TIME: 03:50:56 PM
MOVED:
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 17-047, as amended, to the Committee on finance. The motion failed on a vote of 3-8.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
No
Coram
Yes
Donovan
No
Fenberg
No
Fields
Yes
Garcia
No
Jones
No
Marble
No
Scott
No
Baumgardner
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
YES: 3 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL: SB17-047
TIME: 03:51:54 PM
MOVED: Baumgardner
MOTION: Postpone Senate Bill 17-047 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. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:



03:52 PM



The committee recessed.



03:54 PM -- HB 17-1116



The committee returned from recess. Senator Martinez Humenik, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of House Bill 17-1116 concerning the continuation of the low-income household energy assistance. She also distributed a breakdown of energy assistance by rural electric association (Attachment G). The reengrossed bill extends authorization for up to $13 million of Tier 2 Severance Tax Operational Fund moneys for low-income energy-assistance programs through FY 2023-24. Under current law, funding for these programs expires after FY 2018-19. The programs provide direct energy bill assistance to low-income households through programs administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Energy Outreach Colorado nonprofit; and energy-efficiency improvements for low-income homeowners through a program administered by the Colorado Energy Office.



170323 AttachG.pdf170323 AttachG.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:59 PM --
Michael Sandoval, Independence Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee about his objection to the bill.













04:07 PM --
Dan Haley, President, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, spoke in support of the bill.



04:11 PM --
Skip Arnold, Energy Outreach Colorado, testified in support of the bill and identified other sources of energy assistance for low income persons in Colorado.



04:14 PM --
Troy Whitmore, United Power and the Colorado Rural Electric Association, testified in support of the bill.



04:30 PM --
Sophia Guerrero-Murphy, Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



04:33 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Martinez Humenik closed her remarks on the bill.



04:34 PM



Senator Garcia distributed Amendment L.004 (Attachment H).



170323 AttachH.pdf170323 AttachH.pdf

BILL: HB17-1116
TIME: 04:34:07 PM
MOVED: Scott
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1116 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 8-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
No
Coram
Yes
Donovan
Yes
Fenberg
Yes
Fields
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jones
Yes
Marble
No
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS














BILL: HB17-1116
TIME: 04:35:02 PM
MOVED: Garcia
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.004. The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Coram
No
Donovan
No
Fenberg
No
Fields
No
Garcia
Yes
Jones
No
Marble
Yes
Scott
No
Baumgardner
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL



04:42 PM



The committee adjourned.