HB15-1277 Summary

• Authorizes $5,000,000 in expenditures from the Species Conservation Trust Fund for fiscal year 2015-16 to fund native species conservation programs in Colorado.

• Allocates funding across eight programs: Native terrestrial wildlife conservation ($1,092,000), Native aquatic wildlife conservation ($558,000), Colorado natural areas program ($234,500), Colorado resource stewardship program ($115,500), Native species management and propagation ($1,000,000), Gunnison river basin selenium management ($500,000), Upper Colorado river basin nonnative species control ($1,000,000), and Colorado river water lease for endangered fish recovery ($500,000).

• Establishes the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources as the authorized administrator to obligate and expend the appropriated funds for the designated conservation activities.

• Declares the act necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety.