s_agr_2017a_2017-02-16t13:30:01z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/16/2017

Location: SCR 357

04:26 PM -- SB 17-035



Senator Sonnenberg, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-035 concerning tampering with oil and gas equipment. This bill adds placing another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury to the elements that comprise the crime of tampering with oil or gas gathering equipment. It also changes the penalty for this crime from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony and states that a victim may seek all available remedies under law.



The following persons testified on the bill:



04:49 PM -- Tracee Bentley, Colorado Petroleum Council, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee about the bill.



04:56 PM -- Jim Cole, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, spoke in support of the bill.



05:09 PM -- Sabrina Seaver, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.



05:13 PM -- Zabrina Arnovitz, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee about her testimony.



05:20 PM -- Dianne Theil, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the hazards of oil and gas development.



05:23 PM -- Shari Stratton, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the health hazards related to oil and gas development.



05:30 PM -- Rendee Webb, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest. She also expressed concern about the hazards of oil and gas development.



05:35 PM -- Elizabeth Murphy, Colorado People's Alliance, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



05:38 PM -- Lauren Petrie, Food and Water Watch, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the health hazards related to oil and gas development.



05:42 PM -- Andrew O'Connor, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest and distributed a copy of his testimony (Attachment H). He also explained that current law already addresses crimes against property.



170216 AttachH.pdf



05:46 PM -- Theresa Conley, Conservation Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill and explained that current law already addresses crimes against property.



05:49 PM -- Sara McCarthy, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



05:52 PM -- Ron Booth, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill.



05:56 PM -- Ellen Buckley, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:01 PM -- Allison Rodenberg, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:05 PM -- Betty Becker, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:08 PM -- Laura Richards, Indivisible Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill and and explained that current law already addresses crimes against property. She also expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:11 PM -- Wes Wilson, Be the Change, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest. He also expressed concern about the health hazards related to oil and gas development.



06:14 PM -- Mindy Miller, Indivisible Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:18 PM -- Barbara Gertz, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.



06:22 PM -- Denise Shoaf, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:25 PM -- Elenor Cabell, Indivisible Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest. She also explained that current law already addresses crimes against property and crimes against persons.



06:28 PM -- Shelly Manter, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:33 PM -- Suzanne Cabral, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the health hazards related to oil and gas development. She also expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:37 PM -- Jessika LeRoux, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the health hazards related to oil and gas development. She also expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest.



06:41 PM -- Shavonne Blades, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the criminalization of peaceful protest. She also explained that current law already addresses crimes against property and crimes against persons.



06:45 PM -- Gary Ruff, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and submitted written testimony (Attachment I).



170216 AttachI.pdf



06:47 PM -- Donna Walter, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.



The following persons were not present and submitted written testimony on the bill:

Craig Meis, Tall Grass Energy, distributed information about the bill and why the company supports it (Attachment J).

Barbara Binder submitted a letter in opposition to the bill (Attachment K).

Gina Hardin submitted a letter in opposition to the bill (Attachment L).



170216 AttachJ.pdf170216 AttachK.pdf170216 AttachL.pdf



06:49 PM



The chair closed testimony on the bill and Senator Sonnenberg closed his remarks. He also distributed Amendment L. 001 (Attachment M).



170216 AttachM.pdf

06:59 PM



The committee adjourned.