Government - Local - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 2000

GOVERNMENT - LOCAL
S.B. 00-23 Hazardous substance incidents - reimbursement for costs - procedures. Allows public entities, political subdivisions of the state, and local governments to claim reimbursement for the reasonable, necessary, and documented costs of a hazardous substance incident from the person or persons who had care, custody, and control of the hazardous substance at the time of the incident.

Requires the executive director of the department of public safety to adopt rules to establish the process by which public entities shall establish that any reimbursement claimed is reasonable, necessary, and documented. Requires the rules to account for all appropriate cost factors.

Requires the executive director to create a list of qualified and knowledgeable persons who are willing to serve as voluntary ombudsmen, mediators, or arbitrators to resolve disputes over claims for reimbursement for the costs of hazardous substance incidents. Specifies that persons on the list shall not be state employees and shall not be compensated by the state. Requires the executive director to adopt rules to establish a process by which parties involved in a reimbursement dispute can arrange for the assistance of persons on the list.

APPROVED by Governor May 26, 2000
EFFECTIVE May 26, 2000

H.B. 00-1045 Intergovernmental agreements - tribal entities. Includes a federally recognized tribal entity within the definition of "government" for the statutory provisions governing intergovernmental relationships.

APPROVED by Governor March 2, 2000
EFFECTIVE March 2, 2000

H.B. 00-1176 Religious meetings on residential property - local limitations - prohibition. Prohibits local governments, including home rule counties, cities and counties, cities, and towns, from enacting or enforcing laws that specifically limit when or how frequently individuals may meet upon private residential property to pray, worship, or otherwise study or discuss issues related to religious beliefs. Makes a legislative finding that this kind of limitation is a matter of statewide concern. Specifies that the act shall not be construed to affect the enactment or enforcement of laws generally regulating adverse conditions affecting the health, welfare, and safety of citizens of a local government.

APPROVED by Governor March 10, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.

H.B. 00-1284 Housing authorities - projects eligible - powers - exemption from special assessments and taxes. Includes commercial facilities in the definition of a "project" under the housing authority law. Further defines "project" to include the provision of, and specifies that a housing authority may lease, dwelling accommodations to persons, without regard to income, as long as the project substantially benefits persons of low income as determined by the authority.

With specified exceptions, requires housing authorities to have not less than one commissioner who is directly assisted by the authority.

Grants housing authorities the following new powers:

To provide grants, loans, or other financing to an entity for projects of the authority;
To pledge or otherwise encumber its moneys for projects;
To establish entities controlled by the housing authority to assist in the undertaking or development of a project.

Exempts the portion of a project that is not used as a store, office, or other commercial facility and that is owned by or leased to specified entities related to a housing authority from special assessments and taxes to the same extent as the housing authority.

APPROVED by Governor May 24, 2000
EFFECTIVE August 2, 2000
NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. For further explanation concerning the effective date, see the note from page vi of this digest.