Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Date:05/01/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:16 PM to 03:50 PM
Balmer
X
Bradford
E
Place:HCR 0112
Gagliardi
*
Liston
*
This Meeting was called to order by
Priola
X
Representative Rice
Ryden
X
Scanlan
*
This Report was prepared by
Soper
X
Christie Lee
Stephens
X
Casso
X
Rice
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB09-253
SB09-085
Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:17 PM -- Senate Bill 09-253

Representative Casso, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-253 concerning the recovery of costs for the relocation of certain utility infrastructure relocated at the request of a Colorado governmental entity. The bill expands the types of relocation costs that utilities may recover through a rate adjustment approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

02:22 PM --
Cameron Graham, representing the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), testified against the bill. He talked about the current statute and the changes the bill will make. Mr. Graham responded to questions from the committee regarding the cost increase the bill may cause for consumers. He said later witnesses will be able to better answer that question.

02:30 PM --
Lynn Notarianni, representing the Public Utilities Commission, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment A). She walked the committee through the current cost recovery process. Ms. Notarianni responded to questions from the committee.

09HouseBus0501AttachA.pdf











02:47 PM --
Bill Levis, Director of the Office of Consumer Counsel, testified against the bill. He explained the differences between regulated and unregulated services. Mr. Levis said the office feels that the bill conflicts with current law and federal law. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the duties of the Office of Consumer Counsel.

02:52 PM --
John McCormick, representing Qwest and the Colorado Telecommunications Association, testified in support of the bill. He stated that Qwest desires to maximize federal funding dollars without taking money meant for other projects. Mr. McCormick described competition in the telecommunications industry and stated that Qwest recently moved to fourth place after Comcast and holds about 30 percent of the market. He discussed the amendments that were added in the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee. Representative Gagliardi talked about previous legislation that was passed on this issue. Mr. McCormick responded to questions from the committee.
BILL:SB09-253
TIME: 03:21:57 PM
MOVED:Casso
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-253 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 6-3.
SECONDED:Balmer
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Bradford
Excused
Gagliardi
No
Liston
Excused
Priola
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Soper
Yes
Stephens
No
Casso
Yes
Rice
No
Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


03:23 PM -- Senate Bill 09-085

Representatives Priola and Rice, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 09-085 concerning the creation of a Legislative Task Force to Study Property Tax Exemption for Business Personal Property. The bill creates a legislative task force to study the business personal property tax in Colorado. At a minimum, its purpose it to examine the following issues:

The task force is comprised of 10 members of the General Assembly, five from the Senate and five from the House of Representatives. It also includes the following seven members, who are appointed by the Governor, with the exception of the property tax administrator:

Members of the task force will serve without compensation and will not be eligible for reimbursement of any expenses. The bill also specifies that Legislative Council Staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services will not assist the task force.


03:26 PM

Representative Rice responded to a question from Representative Stephens regarding what the task force is looking to accomplish. A committee discussion ensued about the business personal property tax. Representative Priola noted that Tony Gagliardi, representing the National Federation of Independent Businesses, did sign up to testify in support of the bill but had to leave.

03:37 PM --
Sandra Hagen Solin, representing the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance (NCLA), testified in support of the bill. She talked about the importance of having a discussion about the business personal property tax. Ms. Hagen Solin asked that the task force focus on solutions.

03:39 PM --
Loren Furman, representing CACI, testified in support of the bill. She said they supported the bill as it was introduced and hope that the task force develops a positive piece of legislation for next session.


03:41 PM

Representative Rice talked about the inefficiency of the current system regarding business personal property tax and addressed earlier concerns that were raised by the committee.


















BILL:SB09-085
TIME: 03:45:59 PM
MOVED:Priola
MOTION:Moved amendment L.023 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.

09HouseBus0501AttachB.pdf
SECONDED:Balmer
VOTE
Balmer
Bradford
Excused
Gagliardi
Liston
Priola
Ryden
Scanlan
Soper
Stephens
Casso
Rice
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB09-085
TIME: 03:48:58 PM
MOVED:Priola
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-085, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 8-0.
SECONDED:Rice
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Bradford
Excused
Gagliardi
Yes
Liston
Excused
Priola
Yes
Ryden
Excused
Scanlan
Yes
Soper
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Casso
Yes
Rice
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





03:49 PM

Representative Rice mentioned that the committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 5, upon adjournment if time permits to hear a briefing on Colorado's Unemployment Insurance Program. The committee adjourned.