Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:02/02/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:34 PM to 02:41 PM
Boyd
X
Cadman
X
Place:SCR 353
Schultheis
X
Bacon
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Williams
X
Senator Williams
This Report was prepared by
Geoff Johnson
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB09-025
SB09-140
Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:34 PM

Senator Williams, Chair, called the meeting to order.

01:34 PM -- Senate Bill 09-025

Senator Spence, prime sponsor, said that Senate Bill 09-025 will extend a surcharge that is assessed on driver's license renewals. She noted that the surcharge pays for facial recognition services and social security number verification, and that Senate Bill 09-025 was initiated by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

The following person testified:

01:36 PM --
Roni White, Operations Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Revenue, emphasized the importance of keeping this fee in place for social security number verification and facial recognition services. She noted that the fee, at its current level, should be sufficient to fund these services through 2014. She said that the facial recognition software that is used by the state is some of the oldest in use in the country. She noted that this fee has been in place for five years.
BILL:SB09-025
TIME: 01:56:16 PM
MOVED:Williams
MOTION:Moved that Senate Bill 09-025 be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-0-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Cadman
Yes
Schultheis
Yes
Bacon
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:57 PM -- Senate Bill 09-140

Senator Bacon, prime sponsor, said that Senate Bill 09-140 provides that public trustees in Colorado serve at the pleasure of the Governor. He noted that appointed county trustees may be removed from office for any reason the Governor chooses under Senate Bill 09-140. Under current law, the public trustees are appointed for four-year terms.

The following persons testified in regard to Senate Bill 09-140:

02:04 PM --
Carol Snyder, Brighton, representing Colorado public trustees, said that Senate Bill 09-140 requires Colorado's public trustees to report on matters of concern to the Governor, at any time required by the Governor, and that the new requirements proposed in Senate Bill 09-140 are appropriate. She noted that Colorado's public trustees are involved with the administration of foreclosures in the state. She said that Colorado is the only state in the nation that utilizes public trustees, and that these trustees serve as an efficient and neutral party for the conduct of the public's business. She noted that the trustees are responsible for conducting property foreclosure auctions. She said that the proposal to require reporting to the Governor was included in Senate Bill 09-140 at the request of Colorado Counties, Inc.

02:30 PM --
Andy Karsian, representing Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI), said that his organization has not yet taken an official position on Senate Bill 09-140, but that he expects CCI to offer its support. He said that Colorado's public trustees are doing a good job, and noted that the CCI committee considering Senate Bill 09-140 meets only once per month, and was unable to consider Senate Bill 09-140 prior to its hearing before the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
BILL:SB09-140
TIME: 02:32:48 PM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Moved a prepared amendment to Senate Bill 09-140, L. 001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Cadman
Schultheis
Bacon
Williams
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
090202AttachA.pdf
BILL:SB09-140
TIME: 02:40:38 PM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Moved that Senate Bill 09-140 be referred to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion passed on a 3-2-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Cadman
No
Schultheis
No
Bacon
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:41 PM

The committee meeting adjourned.