House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor (03/30/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Date:	03/30/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:55 AM to 11:23 AM	Balmer
		Bradford
Place:	SupCt	Casso
		Kerr A.
This Meeting was called to order by		Liston
	Representative Rice	Middleton
		Priola
This Report was prepared by		Soper
	Christie Lee	Stephens
		Gagliardi
		Rice
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Department of Labor and Employment Department of Personnel and Administration Department of Regulatory Agencies Governor's Office of Information Technology Office of Economic Development		- - - - -

10:56 AM -- Department of Labor and Employment

The briefing was called to order by Representative Rice. Representative Lambert, Joint Budget Committee, explained to the committee that page 12 of the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Budget Package and Long Bill Narrative prepared by the Joint Budget Committee (narrative) gives a good comparison of each department's current and previous year's General Fund appropriations. Representative Lambert then began discussing the Department of Labor and Employment budget and directed the committee to a note on the bottom of page 20 of the narrative that talks about the department's reappropriated funds. He then proceeded to page 174 and highlighted some areas of the budget. Representative Gagliardi asked Representative Lambert to explain the Division of Oil and Public Safety Conveyance Section and its purpose. Representative Lambert and Representative Rice responded.

11:01 AM -- Department of Personnel and Administration

Representative Lambert discussed the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) on page 219 of the narrative. He talked about reappropriated funds to the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Representative Gagliardi asked about the furlough days. She also asked whether all of the money that is moving around for the OIT consolidation and the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) is consolidated anywhere. Representative Lambert directed the committee to the note on page 29 that explains the OIT staff transfers from other offices into the OIT under the Office of the Governor. Representative Gagliardi asked about the dollar amounts associated with the transfers. Representative Ferrandino explained that page 80 of the narrative explains the money involved in the transfer of the OIT and CBMS.

11:07 AM

Representative Bradford mentioned a discussion the committee had during its briefing from DPA earlier this session regarding part-time-employees who are currently receiving full-time benefits and whether anything came out of that discussion. Representative Ferrandino explained that a statutory change would be needed to address that issue and therefore it is not included in the long bill. Representative Bradford asked whether anyone is carrying a bill that would change that statute. Representative Ferrandino said there is no bill at this time that addresses that issue. Representative Bradford stated that about $10 to $14 million dollars could be saved if that issue is addressed. Representative Rice stated that the committee can have the DPA come back in front of the committee and discuss that issue in the next couple of weeks. Representative Liston asked why the DPA's Executive Director's Office's budget is increasing by 17.7 percent. Representative Ferrandino explained that the money is a result in consolidating the OIT and is just money moving around from department to department. Representative Liston also asked what the standard rate for IT is on a fiscal note. Representative Ferrandino explained that the in-house rate is approximately $39 and it is about $70 if the service is outsourced. Representative Middleton talked about higher education flexibility in procurement and asked whether that has been looked at for other departments, such as DPA. Representative Ferrandino responded. Representative Lambert weighed in as well. Representative Rice suggested that when the DPA comes before the committee to discuss the employee benefit issue that they also address the procurement issue.

11:16 AM -- Department of Regulatory Agencies

Representative Lambert talked about the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) on page 256 of the narrative and explained that it is mostly cash funded. Representative Liston asked about the PERA reduction of 2.5 percent that employees were asked to take and whether that is a permanent change or temporary. Representative Lambert explained that the reduction is just for one year. Representative Rice mentioned that the DORA has selected a new banking commissioner and filled the six examiner positions and that the new commissioner would be coming before the committee in the next couple of weeks.

11:19 AM -- Governor's Office of Information Technology

Representative Lambert asked if there were any questions regarding OIT and said the consolidation of the state IT will be watched very closely.

11:20 AM -- Office of Economic Development

Representative Lambert was asked to talk about the Office of Economic Development and International Trade and directed the committee to page 75 that outlines the various offices under the Governor. Representative Soper commented on the recent revenue forecast and asked that any additional money be set aside in some sort of reserve. Representative Lambert commented on the recent the forecast as well and pointed out that it could change at any time.

11:23 AM

The committee adjourned.