HB 296-MUNICIPAL MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON announced the  bill was heard the previous week                                                              
and since  Mr. Waring  from the Local  Boundary Commission  wasn't                                                              
available  to testify,  the bill  was held. Mr.  Waring was  again                                                              
unavailable to comment  but members received a copy  to his letter                                                              
to the  Chairman dated April  10, 2002 and  a copy is in  the bill                                                              
file.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TORGERSON called  attention to  the supplemental  packet                                                              
for  HB 296  that  contained three  amendments.  Amendment #1  was                                                              
pending  from the  April 10,  2002 meeting.  There was  discussion                                                              
about changing the amendment to allow  a merger to move forward if                                                              
one  municipality  voted  to  not join  in  the  merger.  Proposed                                                              
amendment #2 would do that.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
He asked for a motion to withdraw amendment #1.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR AUSTERMAN  made a motion  to withdraw amendment  #1. There                                                              
was no objection.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR AUSTERMAN  made a  motion to  adopt amendment #2,  version                                                              
\F.4 Cook. There being no objection, amendment #2 was adopted.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON stated amendment  #3, version \F.3 Cook affects                                                              
applicability. It  doesn't affect  any petition that  is currently                                                              
pending before the Department of Community and Regional Affairs.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR AUSTERMAN  made a  motion to  adopt amendment #3,  version                                                              
\F.3 Cook. There being no objection, amendment #3 was adopted.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TORGERSON asked for the will of the committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR AUSTERMAN made a motion to move SCS HB 296(CRA).                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, it was so ordered.