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S_AGR_2018A 02/28/2018 10:24:50 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
Date 02/28/2018
Attendance
Cooke X
Coram X
Donovan X
Fenberg X
Fields E
Garcia *
Jones X
Marble *
Scott X
Baumgardner X
Sonnenberg X
Time 10:24:50 AM to 11:41:47 AM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Sonnenberg
This Report was prepared by David Beaujon
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB18-170 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB18-176 Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
SB18-172 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

SB18-170 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


10:26:35 AM  
Senator Sonnenberg, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of Senate Bill18-170 concerning reservoir releases for fish and wildlife mitigation. He also distributed Amendment L.001 [Attachment A]. The introduced bill establishes a water court process by which a storage water right owner may dedicate releases from new capacity in a reservoir to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in order to reasonably avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on fish and wildlife within a qualifying stream reach, if certain conditions are met.
10:27:52 AM  
Eric Wilkinson, General Manager, Northern
Colorado Water Conservancy District, spoke in favor of the bill and distributed
a map of the Northern Integrated Supply Project [Attachment B].  He
explained that a similar bill, Senate Bill17-282 was postponed indefinitely
by the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee.  He
explained that state law requires fish and wildlife mitigation plans for
certain water projects and discussed the mitigation plan for the Northern
Integrated Supply Project, also known as NISP.  He also responded
to questions from the committee about NISP and measures to protect other
water users on Cache la Poudre River.
10:36:42 AM  
Peggy Montano, Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District, spoke in support of the bill and announced that Colorado
Water Congress supports the bill.  She also spoke in support of Amendment
L.001.
10:39:20 AM  
Lee Miller, Southeastern Water Conservancy
District, spoke in support of the bill.  He also discussed fish and
wildlife mitigation plans for the district's water diversions.
10:43:17 AM  
Donna Brosemer, Greeley Water, North Weld County Water District, spoke in support of the bill.
10:52:28 AM  
The chair closed testimony and Senator Sonnenberg closed his remarks on the bill.


10:54:16 AM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Sonnenberg
Seconded
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields Excused
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


10:56:00 AM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-170 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Sonnenberg
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Coram Yes
Donovan Yes
Fenberg Yes
Fields Excused
Garcia Yes
Jones No
Marble Yes
Scott Yes
Baumgardner Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 1   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



10:24:51 AM



SB18-176 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


10:56:54 AM  
Senator Coram, prime sponsor, discussed
the provisions of  Senate Bill 18-176 concerning board meeting dates
for the Southwestern Water Conservation District.   Under current
law, the board of the Southwestern Water Conservation District is required
to meet on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July, and October.  This
 bill requires that the board meet once every three months, and removes
the specific date requirements.

There was no testimony on the bill.



10:58:18 AM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-176 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Coram
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Coram Yes
Donovan Yes
Fenberg Yes
Fields Excused
Garcia Yes
Jones Yes
Marble Yes
Scott Yes
Baumgardner Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB18-172 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole


10:58:30 AM  
The committee recessed.
10:59:18 AM  
The committee returned from recess. Senator
Gardner,  prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of SB18-172 concerning
horse racing license alcohol and drug testing.  He also distributed
Amendment L.001 [Attachment C]. The introduced bill allows the Racing Division
in the Department of Revenue to perform random drug tests on human horse
racing licensees.  The Colorado Racing Commission must promulgate
rules to identify the license categories subject to testing and to identify
a list of prohibited substances.  The bill authorizes the division
or its certified contractors to collect testing samples.  Senator
Gardner responded to questions from the committee about the bill and potential
amendments to the bill.



The chair closed testimony and Senator Gardner closed his remarks on the
bill.
11:08:46 AM  
Committee discussion followed about potential
amendments to the bill including striking provisions of the legislative
declaration on Page 2 of the printed bill lines 19 through 21.  Senator
Sonnenberg distributed Amendment L.002 [Attachment D].

11:14:27 AM  
Bruce Seymore, Arapahoe Park, spoke in
support of the bill.  He also responded to questions from the committee
about the bill's legislative declaration and  Amendment L.002.

11:15:29 AM  
Mark Hillman, Colorado Horse Racing Association,
spoke in support of the bill and Amendment L.001.  He also responded
to questions from the committee about drug testing for riders and horses
and the bill's legislative declaration.
11:17:02 AM  
Dan Hartman, Division of Racing Events,
spoke in support of the bill and discussed drug testing conducted by the
division.  He responded to questions from the committee about the
bill's legislative declaration and Amendment L.002.  He also identified
the number of positive drug tests the division obtained in the past five
years.
11:38:05 AM  
The chair closed testimony and Senator
Garnder closed his remarks on the bill.


11:40:24 AM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Coram
Seconded
Cooke
Coram
Donovan
Fenberg
Fields Excused
Garcia
Jones
Marble
Scott
Baumgardner
Sonnenberg
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


11:41:37 AM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-172, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Coram
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Coram Yes
Donovan Yes
Fenberg Yes
Fields Excused
Garcia Yes
Jones Yes
Marble No
Scott Yes
Baumgardner Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 1   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


11:41:47 AM   Committee Adjourned






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