House Committee on Finance (03/11/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	03/11/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:40 PM to 02:13 PM	Apuan	X
		Benefield	X
Place:	LSB A	Gerou	X
		Kefalas	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kerr A.	X
	Representative Judd	Lambert	X
		Roberts	X
This Report was prepared by		Summers	X
	Ron Kirk	Swalm	X
		Frangas	X
		Judd	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-157 SB09-025 HB09-1294		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:40 PM -- Senate Bill 09-157 - Concerning the Retirement Plan Eligibility of Specified Employees of the University of Colorado

Representative Hullinghorst, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 09-157 specifies that certain employees of the University of Colorado shall be members of the university's retirement plan. These employees include the university president, chancellors, deans, other professionals exempt from the state personnel system, and faculty as determined by the board of regents. She concluded noting that new employees who are members of the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) may choose either to be active members of PERA or to participate in the university's plan. After a brief committee discussion, the committee heard testimony.

The following person testified:

01:42 PM -- Mr. Jeremy Hueth, Managing Associate University Counsel, University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and said that it clarifies existing law.

01:48 PM


BILL:	SB09-157
TIME:	01:48:17 PM
MOVED:	Kefalas
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-157 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Lambert	Yes
	Roberts	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:50 PM -- Senate Bill 09-025 - Concerning an Extension of Fees on Certain Identification Documents

Representative Benefield, prime sponsor, briefly explained that the bill extends the 60-cent identification security fund surcharge for driver's licenses and identification cards.

The following person testified:

01:51 PM -- Ms. Roni White, Colorado Department of Revenue, responded to committee questions.

01:54 PM


BILL:	SB09-025
TIME:	01:54:53 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-025 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Kerr A.
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Lambert	Yes
	Roberts	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:56 PM -- House Bill 09-1294 - Concerning the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund Checkoff

Representative Vigil, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 09-1294 extends the voluntary contribution designation (or income tax checkoff) benefitting the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund from tax year 2009 through tax year 2011. He continued by noting that the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund provides funding for projects that manage or recover nongame wildlife and has collected $4.3 million dollars over the last 10 years. Nongame wildlife includes 750 species of wildlife in Colorado that cannot be hunted, fished, or trapped. These projects include wildlife such as lynx, river otter, black-footed ferret, greenback cutthroat trout, mountain plover, and others. Representative Vigil closed by saying that the nongame program does not receive state tax dollars and depends on voluntary contributions.

The following persons testified:

01:59 PM -- Mr. Tom Nesler, Colorado Division of Wildlife, testified in support of the measure and discussed the types of wildlife that are protected by the program.

02:10 PM -- Mr. Josh Pollock, Center for Native Ecosystems, testified in support of the bill and commented that he represents an organization with a mission to protect endangered species.

02:12 PM


BILL:	HB09-1294
TIME:	02:12:34 PM
MOVED:	Roberts
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1294 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Lambert	No
	Roberts	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:13 PM

Adjourn.