DENVER Senators delayed a bill to merge the state parks and wildlife divisions until next week, at the request of Senate President Brandon Shaffer.
It was the first snag for Senate Bill 208, which has the support of a broad array of Democrats and Republicans, as well as Gov. John Hickenlooper. It would merge the boards that oversee the state parks and wildlife divisions, the first step in combining the two agencies in order to save money.
Senators began discussing the bill Tuesday morning until Shaffer, D-Longmont, asked for a delay until next Monday so he could look into criticism that the bill could open state parks to gas and oil drilling.
That wont happen, said the sponsor, Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village.
There is nothing in this bill that authorizes drilling in state parks, Schwartz said. Im not happy, but I will in fact lay the bill over.
Shaffer said he had very little information about the drilling complaint, but he thought it was appropriate to slow the bill down for a more thorough consideration.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com.