3-24 House Second Reading

• Title: 3-24 House Second Reading
• IBCC - Doc Type: Legislation

3-24 House Second Reading

Page 5 of 13

$250,000.00, nearly $250,000.00 is needed to set up a framework
for discussion if that's all this bill really is.

Mr. Chairman:

Representative Penry

Rep. PelllY

Thank you Mr. Chairman. As Representative Curry rightly points
out, this bill creates a framework for conversation. But not
conversation for conversation's sake. Conversation oriented
towards action in solving problem. And so to answer your
question specifically about how the money will be used in the first
year. Again, it's important to note this isn't new money, this is
money that is otherwise allocated to the Colorado Water
Conservation Board for its various other fi.Jl1ctions. So this is not a
new appropriation over that which they would otherwise get.

But that money will be used by the local basin roundtables to form
themselves to begin needs assessment, to look at the broad array of
issues and challenges that they're facing and begin to identify
solutions. That's part one of what the money will look at.

Part two is for the statewide Interbasin Compact Committee. As I
mentioned when we were discussing amendments, rather than the
General Assembly today tell that entity what authorities it's
getting, we've asked them to go out and tell us what they need in
terms of new authorities, contract or otherwise, to make these
agreements that are reached as part of this process permanent and
lasting and meaningfi.Jl. And so that group will go through that
process this year, well, hopefi.Jlly, right after this bill is enacted, if
we're fortunate enough to get to that point.

Again, wrestling with these tough legal questions of how do we
give these agreements form and substance. So I think the task,
while the bill has changed form a little bit, quite a bit in the
Committee process, is still formidable in year one and certainly I
think the $250,000.00 is a pmdent financial mechanism to fund
those activities.

Mr. Chairmall: Representative Curry

Rep. ClIny Thank you Mr. Chairman and thank you Representative Penry for
that explanation. There is a lot of work ahead of us on this issue,
and I think the members need to understand that lots of folks in
mral Colorado are concerned about what the, if there's an agenda
behind this bill. And what the Ag Committee tried to do was get to
the tmth of what this is about. And what I see as beneficial for

www.escriptionist.com Page 5 of 13