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S_AGR_2018A 01/25/2018 01:31:50 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
Date 01/25/2018
Attendance
Cooke X
Coram X
Donovan X
Fenberg X
Fields X
Garcia X
Jones X
Marble X
Scott X
Baumgardner X
Sonnenberg X
Time 01:31:50 PM to 04:02:55 PM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Sonnenberg
This Report was prepared by David Beaujon
Hearing Items Action Taken
Conf 18-Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund — State Board Of The Favorably Refer to Full Senate
SB18-066 Referred to Senate Finance
SB18-009 Committee Discussion Only
SJM18-002 Postponed Indefinitely

Conf 18-Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund — State Board Of The - Favorably Refer to Full Senate
01:33:35 PM  
Chris Castillion, Executive Director of
Great Outdoors Colorado (also know as GOCO), introduced the Governor's
appointments to the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund
and discussed the role of board and the activities of GOCO that administers
the fund.
01:34:21 PM  
Julie Thibodeau of Durango, appointed for a term expiring April 15, 2021, as a Democrat and resident of the 3rd Congressional District who lives west of the Continental Divide, discussed her experience and interest in serving on the board [Attachment A].
01:34:31 PM  
Natalie Jo Rogers of Yuma, reappointed for a term expiring April 15, 2021, an Unaffiliated and resident of the 4th Congressional District, discussed her experience and interest in serving another term on the board [Attachment A].
01:35:24 PM  
Jason B. Brinkley of Aurora, reappointed for a term expiring April 15, 2021, a Republican and resident of the 6th Congressional District, discussed his experience and interest in serving another term on the board [Attachment A].
01:35:56 PM  
Karma Giulianelli of Golden, reappointed for a term expiring April 15, 2021, a Democrat and resident of the 7th Congressional District, discussed her experience and interest in serving another term on the board [Attachment A].
01:38:16 PM  
Chris Castillion, Executive Director of
Great Outdoors Colorado, responded to questions from the committee about
tax credits for conservation easements.


01:46:08 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Julie Thibodeau, Natalie Jo Rogers, Jason Brinkley, and Karma Giulianelli to the Conf 18-Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund — State Board Of The to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Baumgardner
Seconded
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



01:32:27 PM

The chair announced changes to the order of bills that will be considered by the committee during today's hearing.



SB18-066 - Referred to Senate Finance
01:46:15 PM  
Senator Garcia and Senator Sonnenberg,
 co-prime sponsors, discussed the provisions of SB18-066 that extends
the operation of the State Lottery Division.  Under current law, the
State Lottery Division (division) in the Department of Revenue is scheduled
for termination on July 1, 2024.  This bill repeals the termination
date and permanently establishes the division.  The sponsors also
responded to questions from the committee about the bill and provisions
in the Colorado Constitution concerning the allocation of lottery revenue.
 Senator Sonnenberg also responded to questions from the committee
about tax credits for conservation easements.  
01:52:56 PM  
Jay Frost, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the benefits of conservation easements he has placed on his ranch.
02:00:53 PM  
Meghan Dollar, Colorado Municipal League, spoke in support of the bill and identified other governments and associations that support the bill.
02:02:49 PM  
Brenden Reese, Colorado Department of Revenue, responded to questions from the committee about tax credits for conservation easements and other issues.
02:05:40 PM  
Chris Castillion, Executive Director of
Great Outdoors Colorado (also known as GOCO), responded to questions from
the committee about tax credits for conservation easements.
02:10:17 PM  

The chair closed testimony.  Senator Sonnenberg and Senator Garcia responded to questions from the committee about the bill.


02:14:11 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-066 to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Garcia
Seconded
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



SB18-009 - Committee Discussion Only

02:15:50 PM  
Senator Fenberg and Senator Priola, co-prime
sponsors, discussed the provisions of SB18-009 concerning energy storage
equipment for customers of electrict utilities.  They also distributed
Amendment L.001 [Attachment B] and a fact sheet on the bill [Attachment
C],   Senator Fenberg explained he sponsored a similar bill in 2017
that was postponed indefinitely.  He also responded to questions from
the committee about the bill and Amendment L. 001.  The bill directs
the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt rules governing the installation,
interconnection, and use of customer-sited distributed electricity storage
systems.  The bill specifies principles that are to be incorporated
into the rules, including the installation and use of customer-sited electricity
storage systems is in the public interest; consumers may install these
systems without the burden of unnecessary regulations or discriminatory
fees; utility approval processes for these systems must be simple, streamlined,
and affordable; and utilities may not require customer-sited meters to
monitor these systems.
02:38:13 PM  
Ray Gifford, Edison Electric Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill.
02:40:21 PM  
Senator Fenberg distributed Amendment L.006
[Attachment D].
02:41:03 PM  
Phil Undercuffer, Outback Power, spoke
in support of the bill.  He also responded to questions from the committee
about the bill.
02:46:40 PM  
America Sherwood, League of Women Voters, spoke in support of the bill.
02:48:28 PM  
The committee recessed.
02:50:32 PM  
The committee returned from recess.  Mr.
Undercuffer and Mr. Gifford continued to respond to questions from the
committee about the bill.
03:14:38 PM  
Unity Vincent Sferrazza, Herbal Gardens
Wellness, spoke in support of the bill.
03:17:38 PM  
Whitney Painter, Buglet Solar, spoke in
support of the bill.  She also responded to questions from the committee
about how electric storage systems work.
03:20:01 PM  
Jacob Schlesinger, Solar Energy Industry Association, Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association, spoke in support of the bill. He also responded to questions from the committee about the reasons customers may want to install a battery.
03:27:31 PM  
Chris Votoupal, Colorado Clean Tech Industries Association, spoke in support of the bill and commented on Amendment L.001.
03:30:42 PM  
Willie Mein, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.
03:34:24 PM  
Senator Fenberg and Senator Priola discussed the provisions of Amendment L.001 and Amendment L.006.
03:40:40 PM  
The bill was laid over and tentatively
scheduled for action only on Thursday February 1.



SJM18-002 - Postponed Indefinitely
03:41:16 PM  

Senator Jones, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of  Senate Joint Memorial 18-002 concerning the elimination of energy subsidies.  He also distributed information about energy subsidies [Attachment E].

03:42:45 PM  
Amelia Myers, Conservation Colorado, spoke in support of the memorial.
03:44:31 PM  
Andrew O'Connor, representing himself,
spoke in support of the memorial and distribued information about energy
subsidies [Attachment E].
03:46:35 PM  
Unity Vincent Sferrazza, Herbal Gardens Wellness, spoke in support of the memorial.
03:54:29 PM  
Jim Cole, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission, responded to prior testimony about severance taxes on oil and
gas in Colorado and other states.  He also explained why state law
allows oil and gas producers to obtain a property tax deduction on their
severance tax obligation.
03:57:48 PM  

The chair closed testimony and Senator Jones closed his remarks. He also responded to questions from the committee about energy subsidies and the memorial.



04:01:40 PM
 Motion Referred to Full Senate for final action.
Moved Jones
Seconded
Cooke No
Coram No
Donovan No
Fenberg Yes
Fields Yes
Garcia No
Jones Yes
Marble No
Scott No
Baumgardner No
Sonnenberg No
YES: 3   NO: 8   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


04:02:41 PM
 Motion Postpone SJM18-002 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 Baumgardner
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Coram Yes
Donovan Yes
Fenberg No
Fields No
Garcia Yes
Jones No
Marble Yes
Scott Yes
Baumgardner Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


04:02:55 PM   Committee Adjourned






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