HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Full - Legislative Review Committee - 01/27/2015 -
City Manager’s Office
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
Legislative Review Committee Agenda
January 27, 2015, 4:00 p.m.
Commons Conference Room
1. Approval of minutes from October 28, 2014 meeting
2. Review bill tracking process
3. Review Colorado General Assembly Bills
4. Other business
National League of Cities Conference in March 2015
Next meetings: February 10 and February 24
City Manager’s Office
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
Legislative Review Committee Agenda
Meeting Notes (DRAFT, to be approved January 27, 2015)
October 28, 2014, 4:00 p.m.
Commons Conference Room
Present: Wade Troxell, Councilmember; Lisa Poppaw, Councilmember; Ross
Cunniff, Councilmember; Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager; Carrie
Daggett, Interim City Attorney; Dan Weinheimer, Legislative Policy Manager
Absent: None
Guests: Ann Hutchison, Chamber of Commerce
Councilmember Troxell called the meeting to order at 4:13 pm.
Adoption of the minutes from the October 14, 2014 meeting were moved for
approval by Councilmember Cunniff and seconded by Councilmember Troxell.
Minutes were adopted without amendment.
The group continued discussion of the 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda.
Councilmembers reviewed and made modifications to sections on High
Performing Government, Community and Neighborhood Livability, Safe
Community and Transportation. Councilmembers asked that Dan circulate the
modified draft to staff liaisons and to Council-appointed Boards and Commissions
for their comment. The Council consideration of the Policy Agenda will occur on
November 18.
Councilmember Cunniff sought to clarify whether a resolution would be offered
for Council to comment on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Dan said that a
resolution commenting on policies important to the Council would be the best
way to comment. LRC discussed the topic and directed staff to seek additional
information about the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the fast-track
authorization bill that would accompany the trade deal. A decision on advancing a
resolution would be made with more information.
LRC discussed whether a meeting, as scheduled, on November 4 was necessary.
LRC decided to cancel the November 4 meeting and not hold another meeting
before the December 5 Legislative Breakfast at Lincoln Center. The meetings for
2015 have been scheduled and added to Councilmembers’ calendars.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 pm.
Updated: January 21, 2015
Bill # Short Title City Position
Date
Intro'd
1st
Committee
2nd
Committee
2nd
Reading
3rd
Reading
1st
Committee
2nd
Committee
2nd
Reading
3rd
Reading
First House
Repass
Conf.
Cmte Governor
HB15‐1003 Fund Safe Routes To School Program Support 1/7 Trans
HB15‐1007 Local Government Retail Marijuana Taxes
Oppose
unless
Amended 1/7 F
HB15‐1012 Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Dyed Diesel
Oppose
unless
Amended 1/7 F 1/21 Trans
HB15‐1016 Promote Precipitation Harvesting Pilot Program Monitor 1/7 Ag 2/2 F
HB15‐1057 The Statewide Initiative Process Monitor 1/7 SA
HB15‐1073 Driver May Challenge Initial Police Contact Monitor 1/12 Jud
HB15‐1077 Modify Late Vehicle Registration Fee Oppose 1/12 SA 1/28
HB15‐1094 Restorative Justice Council And Pilot Changes Support 1/14 Jud
HB15‐1098 Red Light Camera Oppose 1/15 Trans 2/4 Ap
HB15‐1119 Local Government Fracking Ban Liable Royalties Oppose 1/15 SA Ap
SB15‐006 Prohibit Forfeitures without Criminal Conviction
Oppose
unless
Amended 1/7 Jud
SB15‐018 Repeal Late Vehicle Registration Fee Oppose 1/7 Trans 1/27 F
SB15‐032 Lift Restrictions On Carrying Of Firearms Oppose 1/7 Jud
SB15‐040 County Auth To Levy Retail Marijuana Sales Tax
Oppose
unless
Amended 1/7 LG 1/27 F
SB15‐044 Electric Renewable Energy Standard Reduction Monitor 1/7 Ag 1/29
SB15‐046 Renewable Energy Std Adjust REAs Distributed Gen Monitor 1/7 Ag 1/28
SB15‐079 Doc Recording Fee To Fund Affordable Housing Support 1/14 SA
SB15‐081 Use Lottery Money For Recreational Bicycle Trails Monitor 1/14 F 1/29
SB15‐091 Reduce Statute Of Limitations Construction Defects Support 1/14 SA
SB15‐092 Multi‐agency Review Of State Carbon Emission Plan Oppose 1/14 SA
SB15‐093 Compensate Owners Min Interests Extraction Regs Monitor 1/14 Ag
SB15‐095 Manufactured Home Communities Monitor 1/14 F
City of Fort Collins Legislative Tracking
General Assembly Session 2015
First House Second House
Bill # Short Title City Position
Date
Intro'd
1st
Committee
2nd
Committee
2nd
Reading
3rd
Reading
1st
Committee
2nd
Committee
2nd
Reading
3rd
Reading
First House
Repass
Conf.
Cmte Governor
City positions Bill Action Summary
Scheduled for action (yellow)
Support (green) Legislative committee action not scheduled (no fill)
Oppose (red)
Amend (blue)
Monitor (no fill)
Committee Abbreviations
Ag = agriculture and natural resources committee
Ap = appropriations committee Jud = judiciary committee
BL = Business, labor and econ development committee LG = local government committee
Ed = education committee SA = state, veterans and military affairs committee
CC = conference committee Trans = transportation and energy committee
F = finance committee UA = upon adjournment
HE = health care and environment committeee UR = upon recess
Bill waiting 2nd/3rd reading or not calendared (no fill)
Bill signed by Governor (green)
Bill no longer active (gray)
Bill passed, date of action (green)
First House Second House
Bill scheduled in committee of reference (yellow)
Bill status
Legislative committee action scheduled, date and time (yellow)
Bill postponed indefinitely or lost, date of action (red)
Bill did not go on to second committee or no action required (black)
Legislative Review Committee Bill Report
Legislative Review Committee Bill Report
HB151003 Fund Safe Routes To School Program
Comment:LPA pg 34, Transportation #1, "Facilitate cooperative programs
among government agencies in order to help the City meet its basic
transportation needs, including transit, street, highway, road and
bridge construction and maintenance, and safe corridors for
bicyclists and pedestrians."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Fund Safe Routes To School Program
Sponsors:TYLER / TODD
Summary:The bill requires the department of transportation to award grants under
the safe routes to school program using state moneys available to the
department in a total amount of at least $3 million.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Transportation & Energy
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151007 Local Government Retail Marijuana Taxes
Comment:LPA pg. 32, Marijuana #4, "Protect communities’ ability to raise
necessary funds to maintain public safety and enforce marijuana
possession laws."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Local Government Retail Marijuana Taxes
Sponsors:SINGER
Summary:The bill clarifies that counties and municipalities are authorized, subject
to voter approval, to levy a sales tax on all sales of retail marijuana and
retail marijuana products in addition to any sales tax imposed by the state
or other authorized entity.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Finance
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
Amend: Mon, January 12, 2015, by Dan Weinheimer
(dweinheimer@fcgov.com)
(12Jan15) CML: Oppose unless amended to restrict the authority of a
county to only apply a special sales tax adopted by voters to the
unincorporated areas of the county
HB151012 Sales & Use Tax Exemption For Dyed Diesel
Comment:LPA pg 24, Home Rule Authority #2, "Reject State or Federal
intervention in matters of local concern and which unnecessarily or
adversely affect the City’s ability to manage pursuant to its home
rule authority."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Wednesday, January 21 2015
Finance
1:30 p.m. Room LSBA
(1) in house calendar.
Short Title:Sales & Use Tax Exemption For Dyed Diesel
Sponsors:BECKER J. / SONNENBERG
Summary:Bill would challenge the ability of cities to assess and collect municipal
sales tax.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Finance + Transportation
& Energy + Appropriations
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151016 Promote Precipitation Harvesting Pilot Projects
Comment:Legislative Priority, "Support comprehensive water resource
management"
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Monday, February 2 2015
Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
1:30 p.m. Room 0112
(3) in house calendar.
Short Title:Promote Precipitation Harvesting Pilot Projects
Sponsors:CORAM / SONNENBERG
Summary:Bill seeks to amend an existing pilot program for "harvesting" rainwater
in an attempt to increase participation.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Agriculture, Livestock, &
Natural Resources + Finance
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151057 The Statewide Initiative Process
Comment:Not included within LPA may have nexus to home rule authority
and general operation of government.
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:The Statewide Initiative Process
Sponsors:COURT / SONNENBERG
Summary:Bill seeks to require inclusion of fiscal impact statements on statewide
initiatives that must include the effect the measure will have on state and
local government revenues, expenditures, taxes, and fiscal liabilities if
the measure is enacted.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to State, Veterans, &
Military Affairs
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151073 Driver May Challenge Initial Police Contact
Comment:
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Driver May Challenge Initial Police Contact
Sponsors:SALAZAR
Summary:The bill would allow drivers to challenge the validity of the law
enforcement officer’s initial contact with the driver.
Status:01/12/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Judiciary
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151077 Modify Late Vehicle Registration Fee
Comment:LPA pg. 34, Transportation #3, "Explore and analyze alternative
funding methods to meet transportation infrastructure needs."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Wednesday, January 28 2015
State, Veterans, and Military Affairs
Upon Adjournment Room LSBA
(1) in house calendar.
Short Title:Modify Late Vehicle Registration Fee
Sponsors:WILSON
Summary:Bill would alter the late fee charged for vehicle registration from
$25/month up to $100 to a flat $10 fee for a late registration.
Status:01/12/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to State, Veterans, &
Military Affairs
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151094 Restorative Justice Council And Pilot Changes
Comment:LPA pg 29, Social Sustainability #4, "Enhance neighbor relations by
improving the resources available to community mediation and
restorative justice programs."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Restorative Justice Council And Pilot Changes
Sponsors:LEE / COOKE
Summary:Bill expands the pool of resources available to fund restorative justice
programs throughout the state and makes amendments to the state's RJ
pilot program.
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Judiciary
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
HB151098 Red Light Camera
Comment:LPA pg 33, Public Safety #3, "Maintain or enhance the City’s right
to use camera enforcement of traffic laws, reduces operational
restrictions on the use of camera enforcement, and increases the
fines associated with violations."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Wednesday, February 4 2015
Transportation & Energy
1:30 p.m. Room 0112
(2) in house calendar.
Short Title:Red Light Camera
Sponsors:HUMPHREY / NEVILLE T.
Summary:Bill would repeal the use of photo enforcement for traffic offenses by
state, county or local government with exception of use for tolling.
Status:01/15/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to Transportation & Energy
+ Appropriations
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
Oppose: Wed, January 21, 2015, by Dan Weinheimer
(dweinheimer@fcgov.com)
(21Jan15) Police Services: Police Services is opposed to this
legislation. We feel that Red Light cameras as well as camera radar vans
are an excellent tool in improving our traffic safety. If you need more on
this we can provide it as we have been down this road before.
HB151119 Local Government Fracking Ban Liable Royalties
Comment:Priority "Support local control of oil and gas operations"
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Local Government Fracking Ban Liable Royalties
Sponsors:BUCK
Summary:Bill would require any city enacting a fracking ban or moratorium to pay
mineral owners full royalty amount.
Status:01/15/2015 Introduced In House Assigned to State, Veterans, &
Military Affairs + Appropriations
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
Oppose: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) medium
N/A: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) could cause FC to have to pay royalties for nonproduced
minerals....could be millions of dollars, but not likely
SB15006 Prohibit Forfeitures Without Criminal Conviction
Comment:LPA pg 33, Public Safety general statement, "The Fort Collins City
Council recognizes the critical importance of maintaining public
order, providing a safe environment, and protecting the lives and
property of the citizens of Fort Collins."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Prohibit Forfeitures Without Criminal Conviction
Sponsors:WOODS / SAINE
Summary:Bill would limit asset forfeiture to occur only upon a conviction. Bill
would also limit police cooperation with federal agencies in task forces
and public safety operations.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Judiciary
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15018 Repeal Late Vehicle Registration Fee
Comment:LPA pg. 34, Transportation #3, "Explore and analyze alternative
funding methods to meet transportation infrastructure needs."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Tuesday, January 27 2015
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
2:00 PM SCR 352
(2) in senate calendar.
Short Title:Repeal Late Vehicle Registration Fee
Sponsors:NEVILLE T. / NEVILLE P.
Summary:If the owner of a motor vehicle fails to register the vehicle when
required, the owner must, upon registering the vehicle pay a late fee of
$25 for each month or portion of a month for which the registration was
late up to a $100 cap. The bill repeals the late fee. Fees collected are
applied statewide to transportation project funding needs.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Transportation + Finance
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15032 Lift Restrictions On Carrying Of Firearms
Comment:LPA pg 33, Public Safety #5, "Reject initiatives that have the
potential to compromise officer safety."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Lift Restrictions On Carrying Of Firearms
Sponsors:MARBLE
Summary:Bill would allow anyone legally able to possess a handgun to carry the
gun as a concealed weapon without obtaining a concealed carry permit.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Judiciary
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15040 County Auth To Levy Retail Marijuana Sales Tax
Comment:LPA pg 32, Marijuana #4, "Protect communities’ ability to raise
necessary funds to maintain public safety and enforce marijuana
possession laws."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Tuesday, January 27 2015
SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
2:00 PM SCR 353
(1) in senate calendar.
Short Title:County Auth To Levy Retail Marijuana Sales Tax
Sponsors:HODGE / PRIOLA
Summary:Bill would allow counties to levy tax on retail marijuana.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Local Government +
Finance
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15044 Electric Renewable Energy Standard Reduction
Comment:LPA pg 22, Energy #6, "Incent renewable energy production,
including wind power, and provide for “State Implementation Plan”
credits for renewable energy (excluding residential wood burning
and cornbased ethanol) and energy efficiency."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Thursday, January 29 2015
SENATE AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
COMMITTEE
1:30 PM SCR 354
(1) in senate calendar.
Short Title:Electric Renewable Energy Standard Reduction
Sponsors:SCOTT / THURLOW
Summary:The bill reduces the minimum percentage of renewable energy required
of investorowned utilities from 20% to 15% for the years 2015 through
2019 and from 30% to 15% for the years 2020 and thereafter. The bill
also reduces the minimum amounts for cooperative electric associations
from 20% to 15% for the years 2020 and thereafter.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Agriculture, Natural
Resources, & Energy
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15046 Renewable Energy Std Adjust REAs Distributed Gen
Comment:LPA pg 22, Energy #6, "Incent renewable energy production,
including wind power, and provide for “State Implementation Plan”
credits for renewable energy (excluding residential wood burning
and cornbased ethanol) and energy efficiency."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Wednesday, January 28 2015
SENATE AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
COMMITTEE
Upon Adjournment SCR 354
(1) in senate calendar.
Short Title:Renewable Energy Std Adjust REAs Distributed Gen
Sponsors:GRANTHAM
Summary:The bill allows these utilities to count each kilowatthour of electricity
obtained through retail distributed generation as 3 kilowatthours for
purposes of meeting the 2020 standard. In addition, the bill allows
cooperative electric associations to use purchases from community solar
gardens to meet the retail distributed generation component of the
renewable energy standard.
Status:01/07/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Agriculture, Natural
Resources, & Energy
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15079 Doc Recording Fee To Fund Affordable Housing
Comment:LPA pg 27, Affordable Housing #1, "Maintain or enhance current
levels of funding for affordable housing throughout Colorado."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Doc Recording Fee To Fund Affordable Housing
Sponsors:ULIBARRI
Summary:Bill use a portion of document recording fee to develop an affordable
housing fund.
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to State, Veterans, &
Military Affairs
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
Support: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jbrewen@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) High.
Support: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jbrewen@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) The bill will ensure proper ongoing funding for the housing
trust fund which is an important financing tool for the complex layering
and leveraging of funds needed to develop affordable housing for our
community's most vulnerable families.
Actively Support: Tue, January 20, 2015, by dtjalkens@fcgov.com
(20Jan15) SHould create more affordable housing.
Monitor/Support: Tue, January 20, 2015, by dtjalkens@fcgov.com
(20Jan15) Maintain fee waivers for lowincome citizens
SB15081 Use Lottery Money For Recreational Bicycle Trails
Comment:LPA pg 34, Transportation #3, "Explore and analyze alternative
funding methods to meet transportation infrastructure needs."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
Thursday, January 29 2015
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Upon Adjournment SCR 354
(1) in senate calendar.
Short Title:Use Lottery Money For Recreational Bicycle Trails
Sponsors:CROWDER
Summary:Bill would allow a portion of lottery money to be utilized in development
of community bike trails.
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Finance
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
Neutral: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) Low
Neutral: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) None provided the definition of recreational trail used in the
legislation does not preclude use of lottery funds for trails that are not
next to streets. The legislation defines recreational trails as trails on or
next to streets, which is odd because most recreational trails are not on or
near streets, like the Poudre Trail, Spring Creek Trail etc. Fortunately,
the legislation specifies that lottery dollars can be used for other types of
trails so it doesn't present any problems for us. If they wanted to limit the
use of lottery funds only to trails along streets, that would be a big
problem.
SB15091 Reduce Statute Of Limitations Construction Defects
Comment:LPA pg. 27 Affordable Housing #5, "Amend construction defect
laws to reasonably balance safe and reliable housing with needed
condominium construction."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Reduce Statute Of Limitations Construction Defects
Sponsors:SCOTT
Summary:Bill would reduce the period available to file construction defect
litigation.
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to State, Veterans, &
Military Affairs
Fiscal Notes:Fiscal Note
Analyze This
Comments:
Conditionally Support: Thu, January 15, 2015, by
lkadrich@fcgov.com
(15Jan15) building believes that four years may be a better date
however 3 years is ok
N/A: Thu, January 15, 2015, by lkadrich@fcgov.com
(15Jan15) it may encourage more affordable types of housing and
better meet city goals related to a variety of housing types
SB15092 Multiagency Review Of State Carbon Emission Plan
Comment:LPA pg 19, Climate and Environmental Protection #2, "Establish
greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Multiagency Review Of State Carbon Emission Plan
Sponsors:COOKE
Summary:Bill directs development of an emission reduction plan for electric
utilities.
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to State, Veterans, &
Military Affairs
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
SB15093 Compensate Owners Min Interests Extraction Regs
Comment:Priority "Support local control of oil and gas operations"
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Compensate Owners Min Interests Extraction Regs
Sponsors:SONNENBERG
Summary:Bill would require that a local government enacting a ban or moratorium
on fracking compensate mineral rights owners.
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Agriculture, Natural
Resources, & Energy
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
Oppose: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) Medium
N/A: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) Could cost millions, but unlikely
N/A: Fri, January 16, 2015, by jstokes@fcgov.com
(16Jan15) This bill would lead to endless disagreements about value
and litigation. Does not support local control.
SB15095 Manufactured Home Communities
Comment:LPA pg 27, Affordable Housing #6, "Increase the amount of
affordable, sustainable and highquality housing in communities."
Position:
Calendar
Notification:
NOT ON CALENDAR
Short Title:Manufactured Home Communities
Sponsors:KEFALAS / TYLER
Summary:Bill makes numerous changes to mobile home park law (like renaming to
Manufactured Home Communities".
Status:01/14/2015 Introduced In Senate Assigned to Finance
Fiscal Notes:
Analyze This
Comments:
N/A: Fri, January 16, 2015, by Dan Weinheimer
(dweinheimer@fcgov.com)
(16Jan15) From Dan Beatty (Mediation Coordinator): 3812216 limits
mediation when nonpayment of rent is involved. That doesn't make
sense. Many nonpayment of rent cases can be successfully mediated
with the resulting agreement forming a plan for the parties to move
forward or terms for terminating their relationship. This should not take
mediation out of play for nonpayment of rent cases. 2432725(4)
requires the division to develop a dispute resolution program/entity but
gives no guidance as to the expectation. Dispute resolution is a very
broad term and other “dispute resolution” programs developed and
implemented at the state level have not impressed me. 2432725(4)(d)
recognizes that there are government and nonprofit dispute resolution
centers already doing this work and requires the division to post that
information on their website. I am concerned about the language: “a list
of local government agencies and communitybased nonprofit
organizations that are created and empowered to mediate disputes
between or among landlords, management and home owners within
manufactured home communities.” My concern is that there is an
implicit qualification/accreditation in that language. Who decides if a
given program has been created or empowered to mediate in a given
area? Is there oversight contemplated by this language? It also
demonstrates our lawmaker’s lack of understanding of mediation and the
belief of lawmakers that mediators must be subject matter experts in the
dispute area they are mediating rather than recognizing that mediators are
experts in communicating through conflict and that the parties are the
subject matter experts in their own disputes. I would prefer that this
language be changed to “a list of local government agencies and
communitybased nonprofit organizations that provide mediation
services to landlords, tenants, management, and homeowners in
manufactured home communities.”