Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-290

Date: 05/01/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-290

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.010 (Attachment A) . The motion Adopt Amendment L.011 (Attachment B). The motion Adopt L.012 (Attachment C). The motion passed wit Refer Senate Bill 09-290, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

03:19 PM -- Senate Bill 09-290

Representative Judd, chair, called the meeting to order. Representative Riesberg, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of SB 09-290 which changes the review process for cash-funded capital construction projects at state institutions of higher education. The bill was recommended by the Capital Development Committee (CDC).

Representative Riesberg indicated that increases in student fees to help fund capital projects generally do not have a TABOR impact to the state since state institutions of higher education are designated as enterprises. The committee also discussed how the bill would speed up the process for certain higher education capital construction projects. It discussed the CDC's role in approving the projects.

03:27 PM

Representative Riesberg continued by discussing how student fees are used to help finance construction projects. He also explained how SB 09-290 would allow certain cash funded projects to begin construction in a faster amount of time. Under the bill, state institutions of higher education are permitted to begin a construction project with approval of the school's governing board if:

funding for construction is from cash funds;
the building is operated and maintained with cash funds or with state funds (in the case of academic buildings);
the project was included in the most recent 2-year projection provided by CCHE to the CDC; and
the project is not part of the Higher Education Revenue Bond Intercept Program

If these conditions are not met, a project would go through the existing review process.

The committee discussed whether the projects affected by the bill would still have the same transparency and accountability as they would under the current review process. Representative Riesberg indicated that institutions' two-year construction plans - which include the projects affected by the bill - are reviewed by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the CDC. Further, institutions provide periodic updates on their construction projects. Representative Riesberg indicated that the CDC, higher education institutions, and other interested parties were involved in drafting the bill.

The following person testified:

03:36 PM -- Mr. John Karakoulakis, representing the Colorado Department of Higher Education, indicated that the state's institutions of higher education were all agreeable to the bill.

Representative Riesberg concluded by asking for support for the bill and discussing the proposed amendments. Members of the committee received copies of Amendment L.010 (Attachment A), Amendment L.011 (Attachment B), and Amendment L.012 (Attachment C).


BILL:	SB09-290
TIME:	03:37:12 PM
MOVED:	Kefalas
MOTION:	Adopt Amendment L.010 (Attachment A) . The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Apuan	Excused
	Benefield
	Gerou
	Kagan
	Kefalas
	Lambert
	Roberts	Excused
	Summers
	Swalm
	Frangas
	Judd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-290
TIME:	03:38:13 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Adopt Amendment L.011 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Apuan	Excused
	Benefield
	Gerou
	Kagan
	Kefalas
	Lambert
	Roberts	Excused
	Summers
	Swalm
	Frangas
	Judd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-290
TIME:	03:39:16 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Adopt L.012 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Kefalas
		VOTE
	Apuan	Excused
	Benefield
	Gerou
	Kagan
	Kefalas
	Lambert
	Roberts	Excused
	Summers
	Swalm
	Frangas
	Judd

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-290
TIME:	03:40:20 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-290, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 9 - 0 vote.
SECONDED:	Kagan
		VOTE
	Apuan	Excused
	Benefield	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Lambert	Yes
	Roberts	Excused
	Summers	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Judd	Yes

Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS