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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 02/27/2003 -r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary February 27,2003 Legislative Review Committee present:Ray Martinez,Marty Thaw Staff:John Fischbach,Diane Jones,Ron Phillips,Carrie Daggett,Mark Radtke The meeting was called to order at 8:03 a.m. MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for the January 30,2003,Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. HOME INSPECTORS LEGISLATION Responding to the Mayor’s request for information on home inspectors licensing,staff presented information on HBO2-1256.This bill failed in House Business Affairs Committee last year.It would have set up a licensing board and standards to be following by home inspectors operating in Colorado. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION The Committee discussed several bills recently introduced in the General Assembly.HB 1304 by Fort Collins Representative Bob McCluskey would increase the penalty class for the crime of impersonating an officer from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 1 misdemeanor.Both Mayor Martinez and Councilmember Thaw expressed both support for the bill,but also the desire that the penalty be made a felony.The committee members felt the crime was such a danger to the community that it warranted felony status. HB 13 L3 was presented to the committee.The bill allows the Air Quality Control Commission to delete territory covered by the AIR Program without legislative approval. The AIR Program is the tailpipe emission inspection program that will likely be ending in Fort Collins on January 1,2004. Water storage and transmission projects would be financed with $10 billion in revenue bonds authorized by SB 236.The bill could provide a funding source should the city move ahead with projects to increase storage capacity.John Fischbach noted that would not necessarily be an advantage to the City.The City might gain a better interest rate than a state bond given the City’s healthier financial picture. Councilmember Thaw brought forward two bills introduced the previous day for discussion.She HR 1318 creates a water bank which acts a clearing house for farmer’s to lease their water to other users on a temporary basis.HR 1320 is a similar measure 0 that allows water rights holders to loan those rights during drought emergencies.Ms. Tharp thought the bills may be worth our support.Staff will bring information on these bills back to Committee. UPDATES ON BILLS OF INTEREST Mark Radtke reported SB 24 concerning concealed weapons carry has been approved by the Senate and is scheduled for House State Affairs Committee hearing tomorrow, February 28.While the least objectionable of the gun bills currently in the legislature, Mr.Radtke reported the bill pre-empts local control over where concealed weapons may be carried.SB 25 which has been rewritten to allow statewide carry of guns in vehicles has been passed by the Senate.SB 63,another concealed weapons carry bill,has stalled in Senate Appropriations Committee. Mr.Radtke infonned the Committee the following bills have been killed:SB 55 dealing with trash hauling and HB 1293 eliminating city building inspectors.Fort Collins has been amended out of the provisions of HB 1099 dealing with propane regulation. Ms.Tharp asked for an update on the election bills.HB 1082 and HB 1171,which both changed local election laws,lost on second reading in the House.Mr.Radtke reported one additional bill,HB 1258 remains to be dealt with.This bill eliminates mail ballot elections in Colorado and remains to be heard by the House State Affairs Committee. Fort Collins is amended out of the provisions of HB 1099 dealing with propane regulation. Scheduled for second reading in the Senate next Monday is SB 154 which bans “inclusionary zoning”as an affordable housing tool. The Committee adjourned at 8:35 a.m. The next meeting of the Legislative Review Committee is scheduled for 8 a.m., Thursday,March 13,2003 in the City Manager’s Conference Room.