Committee Meeting Information

December 5, 2005

University of Wyoming Outreach Building

Casper, Wyoming

 

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Bill Hawks, Co-Chairman

Representative Thomas A. Lockhart, Co-Chairman

Senator Hank Coe

Senator Kit Jennings

Senator Charles Townsend

Senator Bill Vasey

Representative Bob Brechtel

Representative Floyd Esquibel

Representative Debbie Hammons

Representative Elaine Harvey

Representative Erin Mercer

Representative Lorraine Quarberg

Representative Doug Samuelson

 

Committee Members Absent

Representative Becket Hinckley

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

Call To Order

Co-Chairman Lockhart called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

The minutes from the September meeting were discussed.  Co-Chairman Hawks moved to accept the September 19, 2005 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Representative Quarberg and passed.

 

University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources

06LSO-0241.C1 School of energy resources.

Co-Chairman Lockhart noted the committee should have received the report from the University of Wyoming on the School of Energy Resources [Appendix 3] and rather than drafting a letter, the Co-Chairmen had requested a bill be drafted to address the School of Energy Resources.  Rick Miller, Vice President for Governmental, Community and Legal Affairs and Myron Allen, Vice President for Academic Affairs University of Wyoming, presented their proposal for the School of Energy Resources [Appendix 4].

 

Co-Chairman Hawks moved to sponsor this bill as a committee bill and to work the draft bill identified as the 120205 draft [Appendix 5].  Representative Harvey seconded the motion.  Following discussion and amendments, including having the council appointed with advice and consent of the senate, the Committee passed the bill 12-2, with Representative Hinckley and Mercer excused.  The bill will be Senate File 0037 [Appendix 6].

 

Reports

Mr. Miller presented the report on the University of Wyoming Business Technology Center [Appendix 7].

 

Jim Steidtmann presented the report on the Enhanced Oil Recovery Commission [Appendix 8].

 

Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline Authority

Mark Doelger, Chairman and Bryan Hassler, Director of the Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline Authority (Authority) presented a newsletter from the Authority [Appendix 9], a PowerPoint presentation [Appendix 10] and data on price differences [Appendix 11].

 

Co-Chairman Hawks moved to draft a bill to address the concerns of the Authority.  Senator Jennings seconded the motion and the motion passed.  LSO staff was directed to draft the bill.

 

New Representative

Co-Chairman Lockhart introduced new Committee member, Representative Erin Mercer.

 

Community Landfill Remediation

06LSO-0114.C1 Solid waste landfill planning and monitoring.

John Corra, Director, and Dave Finley, Administrator, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) presented draft bill 06LSO-0114.C1 [Appendix 12].  Co-Chairman Hawks moved to sponsor the bill as a Committee bill.  The motion was seconded by Senator Coe and passed.  Co-Chairman Hawks moved DEQ amendments 1 and 2 [Appendices 13 and 14].  Senator Vasey seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Wyoming Solid Waste and Recycling Association presented a letter in support of the bill [Appendix 15].  Bobbe Fitzhugh, Citizens Advisory Group on Solid Wastes presented a letter in support of the bill and offered some observations [Appendix 16].  Co-Chairman Lockhart provided a newspaper article regarding FrontRange landfill expansion [Appendix 17].

 

The City of Casper presented some amendments, withdrawing one [Appendix 18].  Senator Hawks moved to accept the remainder of the Casper amendments, seconded by Senator Vasey.  The motion passed.

 

Following discussion the Committee passed the bill 13-1, with Representative Hinckley excused.  The bill will be Senate File 0038 [Appendix 19]. 

 

Mr. Corra presented information requested by the Committee [Appendix 20]. 

 

Reports

The Committee accepted reports from DEQ on the Air quality permit fee system [Appendix 21] and the Water Quality NPDES fee system [Appendix 22]. 

 

Recess

After lunch Co-Chairman Hawks called the meeting back to order.

 

Wyoming Grant Assistance Program

06LSO-0162.W3 Wyoming Grant Assistance Program.

06LSO-0303.W2 Wyoming grant assistance appropriation.

Mike Petera, President, VoiceViewer Technologies, Inc. presented a flow chart on gap funding [Appendix 23] and draft bills 06LSO-0162.W3 and 06LSO-0303.W2 [Appendices 24 and 25].  Following discussion, Senator Vasey moved for the Committee to sponsor and a do pass on both bills and Representative Esquibel seconded the motion.  The bills passed with the vote being 13-1 with Representative Hinckley excused.

 

Reports

Tucker Fagan, Chief Executive Officer of the Wyoming Business Council presented a report on the Community facilities program [Appendix 26].

 

Mr. Fagan and Sharon Garland with the State Treasurer's Office presented a report on the Investment program [Appendix 27]. 

 

Wyoming Tourism

Diane Shober, Director, Pat Sweeney and Dave Rader with Wyoming Travel and Tourism presented information to the Committee [Appendices 28, 29 and 30] and requested support for their footnote in the Governor's budget.  Representative Hammons moved to support the budget footnote, seconded by Representative Esquibel.  The motion passed.

 

Bankers Bill

06LSO-0304.W2 Public funds-investments.

Dave Johnson, Executive Director, Wyoming Bankers Association presented draft bill 06LSO-0304.W2 [Appendix 31].  Senator Vasey moved for the Committee to sponsor the W2 draft as a Committee bill, seconded by Representative Quarberg.

 

Ron Pasco with the Wyoming Bankers Association, Brian Yarrington and Melanie Valentine with First State Bank in Thermopolis, Richard Chenoweth and Bruce Hendrickson all spoke in favor of the bill [Appendix 32].  Jan Shaw presented a statement on behalf of the Department of Audit [Appendix 33].  Following discussion the Committee passed the bill 11-2-1, with Co-Chairman Lockhart and Senator Coe abstaining and Representative Hinckley excused.  The bill will be Senate File 0042 [Appendix 34]. 

 

Wyoming Aeronautics Commission

Shelly Reams, Aeronautics Administrator presented a report on behalf of the Aeronautics Commission [Appendix 35] and information regarding air service enhancement funding [Appendix 36]. 

 

Reports

Craig Grenvik, Administrator of the Mineral Tax Division for the Department of Revenue had submitted a report on the trona industry [Appendix 37].  Marion Loomis, Wyoming Mining Association presented a letter in support of the industry factor [Appendix 38]. 

 

Mr. Fagan presented a graph on manufacturing equipment [Appendix 39]. 

 

Mary Randolph presented a report on the main street advisory board pilot program [Appendix 40] and provided a copy of the Main Street News [Appendix 41].

 

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Co-Chairman Hawks adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Senator Bill Hawks, Co-Chairman                      Representative Thomas A. Lockhart, Co-Chairman