The legislative session beginning Jan. 8, 2014 could see several bills in response to September鈥檚 historic floods.
A studying the impact of the is crafting bills that would make it easier for communities to fix damaged roads and bridges, and for irrigation companies to relocate their diversion structures.
Lawmakers say the proposed bills are to help communities struggling to recover while also preparing for future disasters.
鈥淭his is what we鈥檝e learned in this last year about catastrophe,鈥� said committee co-chair Rep. Dave Young (D-Greeley). 鈥淭hese little tweaks -- sometimes significant, sometime minor -- will help us be better prepared so that we can respond more quickly and more effectively to the needs of people when they are so dramatically affected by these events.鈥�
The committee approved two bills and debated seven others. One would allow counties to shift some of their general fund dollars to their road and bridge funds for infrastructure repair 鈥� something not permitted under current law.
The other approved bill would allow changes to the point of diversion to damaged irrigation ditches without having to go through the lengthy administrative process of water court. The goal is to , according to the bill鈥檚 sponsor, Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling).
include waiving or reimbursing property taxes for people whose property has been destroyed, and not requiring out-of-state disaster workers who travel to the state to help to file or pay Colorado income taxes.
Rep. Young says the committee will meet the day before the session begins to finalize support for the bills. It鈥檚 not clear how many of the nine bills will be advanced .
