House Committee on Finance (03/10/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	03/10/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:50 AM to 10:52 AM	Apuan	X
		Benefield	X
Place:	LSB A	Gerou	X
		Kefalas	E
This Meeting was called to order by		Kerr A.	*
	Representative Judd	Lambert	X
		Roberts	X
This Report was prepared by		Summers	E
	Ron Kirk	Swalm	*
		Frangas	X
		Judd	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1028 SB09-066 HB09-1154		Referred to Health and Human Services Referred to Appropriations Postponed Indefinitely

09:51 AM -- House Bill 09-1028 - Concerning the Colorado Indigent Care Program

Representative Frangas, prime sponsor, noted that the bill as introduced will be amended and asked that the bill be referred back to the Committee on Health and Human Services. The following action was taken by the committee.


BILL:	HB09-1028
TIME:	09:51:22 AM
MOVED:	Frangas
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1028 to the Committee on Health and Human Services. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr A.	Excused
	Lambert	Yes
	Roberts	Yes
	Summers	Excused
	Swalm	Excused
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

09:52 AM -- Senate Bill 09-066 - Concerning the Consolidation of Public Employees' Retirement Plans (PERA)

Representative Primavera, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill that applied to the merger of defined contribution plans under Senate Bill 09-066 and turned the presentation over to Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA) officials.

The following persons testified:

09:54 AM -- Mr. David Kaye, Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA), testified in support of the bill and responded to committee questions.

09:55 AM -- Ms. Suzanne Kubec, DC Plan Administrator, Department of Personnel & Administration, testified in support of the bill and spoke to the decision to consolidate the defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Ms. Kubec discussed the choices state employees have in terms of choosing retirement plans and noted that there is a significant amount of duplication in the administration of the plans that PERA and DPA offer. She continued saying that Senate Bill 09-066 reduces the duplication of efforts by both PERA and DPA. Ms. Kubec noted that offering two plans are confusing and that recent audits point out that the department does not have the internal controls to administer the plans. She closed by saying that the state defined plans are outdated and a single provider is more efficient.

10:05 AM -- Mr. Greg Smith, discussed the consolidation of the defined contribution and defined benefit plans. These plans will be managed by outside mutual providers and no longer be managed by PERA.

The committee discussed the administration of the state defined contribution plans. Mr. Smith discussed the audit and the choice of selecting a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan. Mr. Smith closed by discussing the portability of the plans and the ability to change plans once during the first 60 months of employment. The committee continued the discussions on the plan.

10:27 AM -- Ms. Michelle Colin, Office of the State Auditor, responded to committee questions regarding the audit.

10:29 AM


BILL:	SB09-066
TIME:	10:29:06 AM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-066 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 8-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Kerr A.
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Lambert	No
	Roberts	Yes
	Summers	Excused
	Swalm	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:33 AM -- House Bill 09-1154 - Concerning the Highway Users Tax Fund

Representative Sonnenberg, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill and said that given the economy, citizens are tightening their belts. The state needs to give transportation its highest priority for funding. He continued by explaining that House Bill 09-1154 prioritizes the state's spending and provides money for highway funding. The committee discussed the history of the Senate Bill 97-001 transfer and past funding levels for highway transportation. Representative Sonnenberg closed by saying that House Bill 09-1154 would prioritize funding for highways.

10:46 AM


BILL:	HB09-1154
TIME:	10:46:54 AM
MOVED:	Lambert
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1154 to the Committee on Appropriations. (The following substitute motion was made and passed on a 5-4 vote.)
SECONDED:	Swalm
		VOTE
	Apuan
	Benefield
	Gerou
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr A.
	Lambert
	Roberts
	Summers	Excused
	Swalm
	Frangas
	Judd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:	HB09-1154
TIME:	10:47:32 AM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Moved a substitute motion to postpone House Bill 09-1154 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 5-4 vote.
SECONDED:	Frangas
		VOTE
	Apuan	Yes
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	No
	Kefalas	Excused
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Lambert	No
	Roberts	No
	Summers	Excused
	Swalm	No
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 4 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:52 AM

Adjourn.