function hasColumnProperties(stateObject) {
  return stateObject.hasOwnProperty('renderProperties') &&
    stateObject.renderProperties.hasOwnProperty('columnProperties') &&
    Object.keys(stateObject.renderProperties.columnProperties).length > 0
}
Does this initial state object have column properties?
@param (object) stateObject - a non-immutable state object for initialization

TODO: Needs tests